Bomb Threat at Independence Center in Philadelphia

So far nothing new has come across any of my feeds yet but I did find this article on Philly.com

www.philly.com...

Here is the body of the article:

A reported bomb threat has closed the Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia since shortly after noon. An investigation at the popular tourist site at 6th and Market Streets continues, with the area blocked off with police tape.

The Philadelphia Bomb Squad is on the scene, along with SWAT officers and bomb-detection dogs.

The center is across Market Street from the Liberty Bell. Earlier, a visitor dressed in camouflage was seen being escorted away from the center.

Since I am only about 30 blocks from there I think I will take a ride down to see if I can get any photos.

Folks used to be able to walk right up to the bell without a whole lot of security.
That has changed drastically. There is now heavy security down there!
I notice that this is for the visitor center and not the Bell or Independence Hall.
The Visitor Center is wide open .. and there is a big parking garage underground
underneath it. But there is no high value target there .. except for people.

reply to post by opethPA


Any time something like what happened in Boston occurs, there are lots of suspicious packages called in by the fearful. And many bomb threats called in by the young and stupid.

This will continue for another week or so.

I wouldn't get too worked up about it.

reply to post by FlyersFan


the hi value target would be american rights and freedoms

ps eta
photos?
be safe Ope

Interesting.. Hopefully nothing goes up in flames. I already think some kind order is being executed right in front of us.

Oh geez... now we get 3 months of everyone and their dog reporting EVERY SINGLE container they see ANYWHERE as a "suspicious package" with panicky police and bomb squads rushing onto the scene and citizens gaping with wide fearful eyes at the spectacle, praying they dont hit the super lotto and be within range of a once a decade make shift bomb blast.

If this may help... It's across breaking news at the moment.

It appears, however, this may be in connection with an earlier incident involving a search for a suspicious man.

At around 9:00 a.m., there was a report to park rangers of a man dressed in camouflage with his face apparently painted at the Visitor Center.

Then at around 12:30 p.m., park rangers escorted a man outside the Visitor Center who was wearing a camouflage jacket.

Though the agents remained silent, the man spoke to Action News while being taken away in handcuffs.

ABC News

Real threat or over-reaction? I guess time will tell.....but interesting in seeing just how high strung everyone is at the moment. It feels a bit more than pure reaction to the Boston event as a done and finished situation. As f they have reason to think it's not quite over yet? Well, we'll see.

So he was taken away in cuffs and now they are looking for a possible bomb that could have been planted? Okay .. this isn't coming across any of the big news channels ....

Originally posted by FlyersFan
So he was taken away in cuffs and now they are looking for a possible bomb that could have been planted? Okay .. this isn't coming across any of the big news channels ....

About 10 blocks away now..
Will post more when I get there or if I see anything interesting.

Originally posted by FlyersFan
Folks used to be able to walk right up to the bell without a whole lot of security.
That has changed drastically. There is now heavy security down there!
I notice that this is for the visitor center and not the Bell or Independence Hall.
The Visitor Center is wide open .. and there is a big parking garage underground
underneath it. But there is no high value target there .. except for people.

That's right. Last time I was there, the only impediment I had to see the bell was the huge number of tourists.

Another update:

Update: Philadelphia's Independence Visitor Center was given the all clear to reopen after a suspicious person sparked concerns about a bomb threat

(Source: Twitter Feed from Philly,com - Local News Source)

Here is their main site for context: Philly.com

Sounds like it may be over for that one?

Yup..just got back after a ride there and it is\was a non-event.
Saw a SWAT truck sitting about 2 blocks away, a few news stations milling about and a ton of people.
Overall it was a pretty glorious Spring day.