The San Francisco Hall of Justice was put on lockdown Thursday morning, after police began investigating a bomb threat at a tow lot on 7th and Bryant streets which closed down Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 101 for nearly three hours, causing a traffic nightmare for afternoon commuters.
Police declared the scene in the South of Market area safe and lifted a shelter in place around 2:30 p.m.
San Francisco police said that a suspicious note left on a car on the 400 block of 7th Street was what led to the investigation, but declined to describe its contents, citing the current investigation.
"We had our bomb squad out here as a precaution," SFPD spokesperson Officer Giselle Talkoff said.
SFPD tweeted about the threat at 11:31 a.m. and advised people to avoid the area.
Local
The SFPD bomb squad brought a robot on scene shortly after 11 a.m. to detect explosives. Chopper footage showed the robot checking out the trunk of a white car parked in the AutoReturn tow lot on 7th Street. At one point the robot could be seen backing out.
Chopper footage showed what looked like a CNG (compressed natural gas) tank in the trunk of the car which closely resembled a Ford Crown Victoria. NBC Bay Area has not been able to confirm this information with police yet. CNG vehicles use clean air technology, reducing smog-forming and greenhouse gases.
NBC Bay Area reporter Jaxon Van Derbeken was inside the Hall of Justice when police ordered shelter in place around 11:30 a.m. He tweeted at 12:30 p.m. that the building, located at 850 Bryant Street, was almost empty after the lockdown was lifted and voluntary evacuations started.
The Hall of Justice remains closed as of 2 p.m. Cases in the criminal and traffic courts were rescheduled for Friday, per orders from the chief justice.
#SFPD Investigating a Suspicious Incident @ 7th & Bryant. Avoid the Area, 7th St. Exit & Street Closures #Traffic #SF #SOMA @CHP_GoldenGate — San Francisco Police (@SFPD) October 20, 2016
Public is advised to shelter in place while #SFPD investigates the suspicious incident. — San Francisco Police (@SFPD) October 20, 2016
850 Bryant largely empty after voluntary evacuation @jvanderbeken @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/p0nSmCXEg8 — Jaxon Van Derbeken (@jvanderbeken) October 20, 2016
SF Hall. people can leave but cannot reenter. Deputies tell voluntary evacuees to head to Sixth Street @nbcbayarea — Jaxon Van Derbeken (@jvanderbeken) October 20, 2016
850 Bryant Hall of Justice being evacuated @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/gQTaakQlwG — Jaxon Van Derbeken (@jvanderbeken) October 20, 2016
There is s full closure in effect for I-80 in the area of 8th St. & Bryant St. due to police activity. pic.twitter.com/brc1hAt6sK — CHP Golden Gate (@CHP_GoldenGate) October 20, 2016
Choppers swirl over shutdown Hall of Justice @jvanderbeken @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/fjY9LjrSsv — Jaxon Van Derbeken (@jvanderbeken) October 20, 2016
Law enforcement block entrance along 7th Street freeway ramp pic.twitter.com/G94GLkdBOg — Jaxon Van Derbeken (@jvanderbeken) October 20, 2016
Rare sight at 850 Bryant-- no freeway traffic @jvanderbeken @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/CP6J3v0Fis — Jaxon Van Derbeken (@jvanderbeken) October 20, 2016
Traffic update: 101 N closed at 280. 80 W closed at 5th St. 6th, 7th, 8th bw Harrison and Bryant closed. pic.twitter.com/KlT7XPGUZv — Michelle Roberts (@Michelle_NBC) October 20, 2016
Traffic nightmare near the SF Hall of Justice. @SFPD says suspicious vehicle found parked below highway overpass. pic.twitter.com/gyTZGBR73U — Michelle Roberts (@Michelle_NBC) October 20, 2016