Thomas MacMillan
(Updated) A bomb threat forced the evacuation of three downtown courthouses Tuesday afternoon.
The threat came in at 3:57 p.m. Tuesday, said police spokesman Officer Joe Avery.
The federal court at 141 Church St. and the state Superior Courts at 121 Elm St. and 235 Church St. were all evacuated, Avery said. Several downtown streets were closed to traffic.
By around 5:30, the bomb squad had completed a sweep of the buildings. No bombs were found.
At 4:30 p.m. Lt. Holly Wasilewski was overseeing officers in front of the Elm Street courthouse. She said police received a “non-specific” bomb threat to one of the courthouses. Police ordered the evacuation of all three downtown courthouses.
Wasilewski said the evacuation had little effect on court business, since it was so near the end of the day.
Police cars were positioned to block parts of Elm and Church Streets.
Yellow police tape marked off the sidewalks around the Elm Street courthouse, but pedestrians walked freely past the Church Street courts.
Jodie Mozdzer Photo