Threat that cleared Pennsylvania Capitol declared a hoax; no intruder or devices found

After conducting an extensive search of the Pennsylvania Capitol building, authorities said they do not believe the threat that prompted the building to be evacuated Saturday was real.

In a statement Sunday, Pennsylvania Capitol Police said that “after a comprehensive search, Capitol Police, federal, state and local authorities determined there was no credible threat and the buildings were cleared to reopen.”

The Capitol building and nearby Pennsylvania Judicial Center were cleared just after 6 p.m. Saturday in response to threats sent to lawmakers.

The anonymous sender wrote that there were “hidden, extremely lethal lead azide devices in and around the Capitol” and the judicial center, and that they were “inside one of the two buildings armed with a knife.”

The broadcaster said it was acting “on behalf of Palestine” and would periodically launch the devices until President Joe Biden condemns Israel.

Both the state Senate and House of Representatives had scheduled sessions for Saturday and Sunday to vote on Pennsylvania’s outstanding budget, but both chambers canceled their weekend workdays even before the threat was received.

Only a handful of Senate employees were in the building Saturday evening. They were ordered to leave while police searched the area for the alleged intruder and the devices.

Both houses of the Legislature are scheduled to return to Harrisburg on Monday afternoon for continued budget talks.