St. Petersburg, USA - Police officers investigated a bomb threat and suspicious package Thursday afternoon at the Church of Scientology Life Improvement Center.
It all started at 12:28 when a security employee at the church called St. Petersburg Police Department to report a suspicious package on thier property.
Officials responded to the scene and found a new-looking brown suitcase outisde of the facility near the alley. A spokesperson for the Church of Scientology says that the they have recently received a number of threats from a group that has staged protests against them at some of their facilities. The spokesperson also said that the church also received a threat today saying that a bomb had been planted at one of their facilities.
Police officers in St. Pete evacuated the building adjacent to teh Center and closed office on the north side of the Municipal Services Center as a precaution. Traffic was also re-routed on 1st Avenue North and 4th Street.
The Tampa Police Department's Bomb Squad responded to the scene and detoned the suitcase in the alley. The suitcase contained clothing, personal effects, and a Holy Bible.