Authorities ordered the evacuation of the Arizona State Courts Building in Phoenix Monday after homemade explosives were found in the building’s mailroom.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said a suspicious package was received at the building at around 8 a.m. local time. The package contained multiple vials, two of which contained unspecified homemade explosive substances, law enforcement said, according to KNXV-TV.
In addition to the court building, which contains both the Arizona State Supreme Court and the first division of the Arizona Court of Appeals, several surrounding buildings were also evacuated.
The package was removed so authorities could investigate and then dispose of the explosives inside, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Arizona State Supreme Court said jointly, according to KPHO-TV.
There were no injuries, and the facility was cleared at about 3:30 p.m. The court building resumed normal operations Tuesday.
“I am deeply grateful to the Court employees and first responders who acted quickly, calmly, and professionally in response to this incident. This event is a sobering reminder that the security of judicial officers and court staff cannot be taken for granted,” Arizona Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer said, according to KVOA-TV.
