A suspicious package was reported in the Mission District on Thursday night, prompting a text warning those in the area to shelter in place. At 8:23 p.m., the bomb squad defused the package with a loud bang, setting off car alarms and giving off a strong odor, but not causing any visible damage.
Police officers were cleaning up and leaving the area a half-hour afterwards.
Carlos Manfredi, a police spokesperson, said that a call had been made about the package near Duboce Avenue and Stevenson Street two hours earlier at 6:23 p.m., prompting the police response.
“We had to call our bomb squad to go out there to inspect what it is,” he said. “It’s just protocol that we go by.”
Eric Levenseller, who was drinking at Zeitgeist bar nearby, said those in the bar heard a loud bang when the bomb squad disposed of the package and went silent for a few seconds — before going back to drinking.
Manfredi said traffic would be impacted and that the bomb squad was called to evaluate the threat. He said the impact to traffic would likely be less severe than earlier in the day, when a suspicious package was reported at the AutoReturn at 450 Bryant St, near the Hall of Justice.
That threat prompted the police to shut down the freeway.
This is a developing story and we will update when we have more information.
