Suspicious Packages Prompt Evacuation at West Bloomfield JCC

The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad swept the area around the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield Tuesday afternoon following reports of suspicious packages found outdoors.

Media reports indicate that two briefcases found in the bushes near the entrance of the proved to be harmless. West Bloomfield Police Sgt. Eric Gruenwald told Patch that police received a call at 3:15 Tuesday afternoon about the two suspicious packages. Gruenwald said there were no threats, but that the building was evacuated as a precautionary measure, particularly in light of the bombing at the Boston Marathon on Monday.

According to WDIV-Channel 4, the packages were found outside in some bushes. Around 4:40 p.m., WXYZ-Channel 7 reported the scene had been cleared. The Michigan State Police Bomb Squad truck was headed northbound on I-275 toward the Northville Post shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday also marked Israeli Independence Day, which members of the Jewish community celebrated with an annual carnival at Hillel Day School as the JCC evacuation was under way. No disruptions occurred at the school. 

Patch will have updates as they become available.