Durham Police Respond to Suspicious Package

DURHAM, N.C. — Durham police are investigating a suspicious package that shut down traffic and forced evacuations near Duke University's East Campus for more than two hours Wednesday.

The Durham County Sheriff's Bomb Unit responded to the scene at 700 Broad St. shortly before 2 p.m. and removed the package from the area.

The deputies took the package to a remote area, where they were working to detonate it late Wednesday afternoon.

In an unrelated incident about 15 minutes later, police responded to a bomb threat at Hillcrest Convalescence Center at 1417 Pettigrew St. Authorities evacuated and checked for anything suspicious. Residents were allowed to return after the building was searched.

Investigators are asking that anyone with information about who might have left the package to contact the Durham Police Department at 919-560-4440 or Durham CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200.