OAKLAND, Calif. (KCBS) — Oakland police are evacuating four downtown blocks near due to the discovery of a "possible incendiary device" near the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, according to city and county officials.
Local law enforcement received reports a "suspicious individual dropped a suspicious item near the federal building" on Wednesday afternoon, according to Alameda County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ray Kelly.
The Oakland Police Department tweeted at 2:07 p.m. that it had closed Clay Street between 11th and 16th streets, as well as Jefferson Street and Broadway, because of the device. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office bomb squad was on the scene. Twenty-two minutes prior, BART tweeted that the 12th Street Station's Frank Ogawa Plaza entrance was closed "until further notice."
Kelly said the bomb squad wasn't initially sure of the device's nature, and it might not be until after the explosive was safely disposed.
"What it preliminarily appears to be, it's a device that resembles a pipe bomb," Kelly said of the device in an interview with KCBS Radio anchors Jeff Bell and Patti Reising just after 2:30 p.m.
"We're doing our diagnostics, and our work on that," he added. "At this time, I don't have specifics on what it is. We're looking to render the device safe, to take a look at it and determine what it is, and we'll come up with a plan of action to mitigate what it is."
Frank Ogawa Plaza, home to Oakland City Hall, is also within the affected area.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.