Chestnut Street closed during bomb scare

Part of Chestnut Street was closed late Saturday afternoon due to a report of an unattended, suspicious-looking bag on 37th Street.

Officials from the Philadelphia Police Department, its bomb squad, the Philadelphia Fire Department and the University Police Department arrived on the scene at around 3:45 p.m. The bag, a maroon leather attache case, was laying on the sidewalk just outside of Sansom Place West.

The bag proved harmless, containing only books and school supplies.

A 150-foot radius was cleared to allow bomb technicians to safely retrieve the package. Traffic was diverted along Chestnut Street from 36th to 38th streets, and 37th Street was closed from Sansom to Chestnut streets.

No building evacuations were required, although guests arriving to attend a 4:30 p.m. wedding at the Tabernacle United Church at 37th and Chestnut streets were required to use a back entrance.

An X-ray of the bag was completed on site at around 4:03 p.m., and traffic resumed.

"Somebody probably left it there, waiting for a ride to pick them up," Fire Department Capt. Earl Hutz said. No identification was found on the bag and it was placed in the Penn Police Department's lost and found.

The bomb squad was also on campus two weeks ago, responding to a report of a suspicious device in the parking garage above The Freshgrocer at 40th and Walnut streets. It was found to be a battery with wires protruding.

Police officials on the scene Saturday said that the response, which included eight police officers and nine fire fighters, was warranted due to ongoing concerns of terrorism.

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