Baltimore: Suspicious Package Prompts Evacuation of Downtown Area

Baltimore Suspicious Package Triggers Downtown EvacuationBaltimore Suspicious Package Triggers Downtown Evacuation Baltimore City, Maryland – A suspicious package discovered near the Inner Harbor on Thursday afternoon has prompted the evacuation of downtown Baltimore. At approximately 12:30 p.m., a passerby reported a suspicious brown paper bag lying on the sidewalk in the 100 block of North Charles Street. Baltimore Police responded to the scene and cordoned off the area. Emergency personnel, including the Baltimore City Fire Department HazMat team, were dispatched to the scene. They used a robot to examine the package, but its contents remain unknown. As a precaution, the area surrounding the package has been evacuated, including the popular Inner Harbor tourist destination. Businesses, government offices, and schools have been closed. Baltimore City Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said at a press conference that the package is being treated as suspicious until it can be safely identified. He urged residents to stay away from the area and to report any unusual activity. “We want to assure the public that we are taking every precaution to ensure their safety,” Harrison said. “We will provide updates as they become available.” The evacuation is expected to last for several hours while authorities investigate the package. Traffic in downtown Baltimore is being diverted, and commuters are advised to seek alternate routes. The incident comes just two weeks after a suspicious package was discovered outside the Social Security Administration office in Woodlawn, Maryland. That package was later determined to be non-hazardous. Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area. Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or the Baltimore City Police Department at (410) 396-2460.