An evacuation of San Francisco's popular Union Square plaza was lifted on Thursday after police investigated a report of a suspicious package, Reuters reported.
The evacuation order ended after a police bomb squad obtained the package and determined it posed no threat. Streets reopened around 1:30 p.m.
Earlier at 11:50 a.m. local time, police received a call from an officer working nearby who said the package contained "evidence that the officer determined needed to be treated with caution."
Union Square and a one block area were immediately evacuated to vehicles and pedestrians. A shelter in place order was also issued to business owners in the surrounding area.
Additional police units and a bomb squad, with the help of a police dog, arrived at the scene.
"The suspicious package ... has been secured," said San Francisco Police Department spokesman Officer Gordon Shyy. "There was no merit to a hazardous device."
It is unknown who the package belonged to and police did not disclose what they found inside.
In addition to the area being closed off, Nike Women's race organizers were forced to temporarily shut down their packet pick-up stations for participants in their marathon race on Sunday.
"Consumer safety is paramount to Nike. Upon discovery of a suspicious package, we alerted the local authorities and the area was immediately cleared and an inspection completed. We can confirm the package posed no danger and the area is now opened," said marathon spokeswoman Jacie Prieto-Lopez.
San Francisco Municipal Railway services were also affected by the bomb scare, forcing some buses and streetcars to delay according to municipal officials.
