City Hall Evacuated -- Now Reopened

UPDATED: 2:55 p.m.

Bethlehem City Hall reopened at a little before 1:30 p.m., about two-and-a-half hours after it was evacuated when a called-in bomb threat prompted city police to close the building.

Barricades that blocked traffic from going up Church Street and New Street were lifted as the building was reopened. Shortly thereafter, city employees began to trickle back into the building.

The call-in threat was made to 911 this morning, according to WMFZ-TV, Channel 69. Mayor John Callahan told the television station that the threat did not sound credible, but that the evacuation, which happened at about 11 a.m. was done as a precaution.

City employees said an unattended package was also found in the building, which prompted police to be even more cautious about re-opening city offices.

Several streets leading to City Hall and the City Center Complex were closed, including New Street at the northern end of the Fahy Bridge and at Market Street. Church Street was also closed at Center Street.