Bomb hoax leads to evacuation in downtown Oakland

Oakland police evacuated four blocks adjacent to the downtown police headquarters after the discovery of what appeared to be a bomb on a Salvation Army loading dock.

A Salvation Army employee reported finding the device at 9 a.m., describing it as a 10-inch by 4-inch ice chest with wires, tape and other other "bomb-type" apparatus inside, said Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson.

The Alameda County sheriff's department bomb squad determined the device, which included an LED light, was a hoax.

Authorities are collecting evidence at the scene and expect to allow people to return in the early afternoon.

Police evacuated everyone between 6th, 8th, Broadway and Webster. The Oakland police headquarters is at Broadway and 7th Street.