The Arizona Supreme Court building in Phoenix was abruptly evacuated on Monday morning after a suspicious package discovered on the premises tested positive for explosive material.
Emergency Response and Evacuation
Law enforcement agencies, including the US Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF), swiftly descended on the scene to investigate. According to the ATF's Phoenix division, which posted about the incident on social media platform X, the probe centred on the "suspicious package" found inside the court building.
Local news outlet 12News, Phoenix's NBC affiliate, reported that the discovery was made in the building's mailroom. At approximately 10:30am on Monday, 10 April 2024, staff were sent home and the entire building was cleared as a precautionary measure.
Wider Security Precautions Enacted
The security alert extended beyond the court itself. As a direct safety measure, the Arizona Department of Education, located directly across the street from the Supreme Court building, was also fully evacuated. The coordinated response highlighted the seriousness with which authorities treated the potential threat.
The Phoenix Police Department confirmed that the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) was leading the investigation into the package. The court building is situated roughly one mile west of downtown Phoenix. At the time of the initial reports, the DPS had not issued an immediate public statement regarding the ongoing situation.
Ongoing Investigation
The incident caused significant disruption in the area and raised immediate questions about security protocols for state government buildings. The involvement of federal explosives experts from the ATF underscores the potential severity of the find. As of Monday, the investigation remained active, with authorities working to determine the origin, nature, and intent behind the package.
Further details regarding the specific type of explosive material detected or any potential suspects were not immediately released. The evacuation order remained in place while bomb squad and hazardous materials teams conducted their thorough examination of the scene.
