Bomb Threat Closes Government Center
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Bomb Threat Closes Government Center

The Loudoun County Government Center was evacuated and the streets surrounding the building closed following a bomb threat Tuesday, Aug. 1. The threat was called in to the building at 1 Harrison St. in Leesburg shortly before 3 p.m.

The caller did not make threats to any specific government department, Sheriff's Office spokesperson Kraig Troxell said, but as a precautionary measure county employees were sent home for the day.

Seven canine units from the Sheriff's Office, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, CIA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and the Fairfax Police Department searched the 151,561 square foot building before clearing it approximately three hours later.

"Nothing suspicious was found in the building," Troxell said.

This is the third time the government center has been evacuated this year. Another bomb threat was received on Feb. 27, but no suspicious package was found, and May 16 a suspicious package was found outside the building, which turned out to be a forgotten suitcase.

Tuesday's bomb threat is currently under investigation by the Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division. Troxell said the next step is to pull the government centers phone records.

"We are going to try and determine who made the call," he said.

A second bomb threat was called into the governement center Aug. 3 around 2:30 p.m. The Sherrif's Office was called in to do a search of the building, Troxell said, but nothing suspicious was found. The building was not evacuated.

Anyone with information about the identity of either caller is asked to call 703-777-0475. To remain anonymous, callers should contact Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. Anyone with information leading to an arrest and an indictment in either case could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000.