Suspicious package rendered safe at Oakland federal building

The Alameda County Sheriff’s department said Wednesday that a suspicious package found at the Oakland federal building has been rendered safe.

The department posted on Twitter at 5:30 p.m.:

We are doing an additional search around the federal building out of an abundance of caution.”

The device was found at about 12:45 p.m. in a planter box at the base of a flagpole at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 1301 Clay St., after a suspicious person was seen there with a package, said Sheriff’s Lt. Ray Kelly.

The area around the building was evacuated between 11th and 16th Streets and from Jefferson Street to Broadway, and the bomb squad responded.

A notice posted on BART.gov as of 5:30 p.m. said the Frank Ogawa Plaza Entrance at 12th Street Station is closed until further notice due to Oakland Police activity. Riders are asked to use other station entrances.