The Canada Revenue Agency building at Vancouver and Johnson streets was evacuated earlier this afternoon as Victoria police investigated a report of a suspicious package.
Johnson Street between Quadra and Vancouver streets was cordoned off with police tape and closed to traffic, as well as the 1400-block of Vancouver Street between Johnson and Pandora Avenue. Hundreds of people stood in the median along Pandora after the CRA building was evacuated as a precaution.
Shortly after 3 p.m., VicPD tweeted that the package was deemed not to be a threat and roads were re-opened to traffic and re-routed transit.
In a statement, Victoria Police said the incident was the result of a person observing a bag which they believed to be suspicious that was left by an unknown female.
“Out of an abundance of caution, officers evacuated the Canadian Revenue Agency and cordoned off the area,” the statement read. “Members from the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team attended and utilized a robot to determine that the package was not a threat.”
The package turned out to be a backpack which contained only personal items and no charges are being considered.
. @vicpdcanada are on scene where people have been evacuated from government building on Pandora and Vancouver after reports of a suspicious package #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/gaxUnjoIR8
— Victoria News (@VictoriaNews) April 3, 2018
