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BlueCross cleared after bomb threatOct 24, 2009 (Chattanooga Times Free Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A second telephoned bomb threat in Chattanooga in three days forced the evacuation of BlueCross BlueShield's downtown location early Friday afternoon. BlueCross' Cameron Hill location was evacuated about 12:15 p.m. after the company received a call that bombs had been placed in the campus' five buildings. Chattanooga police conducted sweeps of the buildings and found nothing, said Capt. Terri Whiteside, spokeswoman for the Chattanooga Fire Department. Officials set up a call station in the main lobby that allowed employees to report any suspicious or unusual behavior on Friday, Capt. Whiteside said. Employees trickled down Cameron Hill during Friday's lunch hour, awaiting news of what had happened and an all-clear sign so they could go back to work. Some said they were aware only that an alarm had been activated and all employees had been evacuated. Others said they were unsure whether they should remain in the area or head home for the weekend. BlueCross allowed employees to return after the situation was assessed, said BlueCross spokeswoman Mary Thompson in an e-mailed statement. "It was determined the safety and security of our employees was not threatened and an all-clear notice was issued at 4:08 p.m.," Ms. Thompson said. The bomb threat was the second major threat this week. On Wednesday, several buildings on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's campus were evacuated after the university's police department received a bomb threat via telephone. A search found no explosives. Making a bomb threat is a Class C felony in Tennessee, punishable by three to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000, according to state law. To see more of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesfreepress.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tenn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |