Second Bomb Scare In Two Weeks Prompts Evacuations At Metro Justice Building
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- All courts have been cancelled Thursday at the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building following the second bomb threat in two weeks.
An all-clear was given a few hours after the building was evacuated.
Police said a phone call indicated a man and woman had placed two pipes bombs inside the building.
"I came out to my cousin's court date and they're telling me there's a bomb threat going on. And they're not allowing anyone to come inside right now," said a man who opted to not give his name.
Miami-Dade Police bomb squad and K-9 units were sent in to check it out.
"Hopefully we get this resolved soon so that everybody can proceed with their day. Because even if you're for traffic court, you still have to be here all day so you can show that you reported," said Wes Wilkes, an evacuee.
HAPPENING NOW
Bomb threat at M-D courthouse.
Everyone OUT & away as bomb squad & K9s check it out.@CBSMiami pic.twitter.com/LF4AnwwJOp— Donna Rapado CBS4 (@DonnaRapado) June 23, 2016
Others were not taking the threat lightly.
"It's crazy. The world is really coming to an end," exclaimed Mercedes Cochran. "First it's the Orlando shooting and now here in Miami, getting a bomb threat at the courthouse."
Last week on Monday, June 13th, the building was evacuated in similar fashion. Miami-Dade Police said a threat came from an individual that "overheard a conversation," prompting a temporary shutdown and investigation before people were allowed back inside.
Thursday's incident forced the courthouse to remain open in a limited capacity, strictly for afternoon bond hearings.