BREAKING: Bomb threat prompts evacuation in Washington, D.C.

• At least three buildings were evacuated due to a bomb threat at the HHS in D.C.
• The Humphrey Building, O’Neill House Office Building and the U.S. Botanic Garden were all evacuated by noon on Wednesday
• A number of streets near the U.S. Capitol were also closed due to the threat

A bomb threat at the Health and Human Services Department has prompted evacuations from at least three buildings in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday morning, officials said. 

The HHS sent an alert about the threat around 9.40 am to the staff at the agency’s Humphrey Building. Emails also went out to Capitol Hill staff informing them that the O’Neill House Office Building and the U.S. Botanic Garden had been evacuated.   

Sarah Lovenheim, a spokesperson for HHS, said in a statement to media outlets that there was a ‘bomb threat received’ at the agency’s main building, and ‘out of an abundance of caution it was evacuated.

She said there was ‘no reported incident’ and that authorities were ‘monitoring the situation closely with Federal Protective Service’ officials. 

Occupants were told to ‘remain calm and move in a ‘safe manner’ to the exits, take annunciators on the way out if possible, close – but not lock – doors behind them and check-in with their emergency management team. 

A number of nearby streets along Independence Avenue SW and C Street SW were also closed, reported the Washington Post.  +5

At least three buildings in Washington, D.C., were evacuated Wednesday morning due to a bomb threat at the Health and Human Services Department. +5

Law enforcement from multiple agencies gathered outside the Department of Health and Human Services after the agency received a bomb threat+5

A number of streets near the U.S. Capitol were also closed due to the threat+5

U.S. Capitol police were on standby on Wednesday morning due to the threat+5

Police with bomb-sniffing dogs combed the area in Washington, D.C. after the threat Wednesday

Daily Mail UK