BEL AIR, MD — The Harford County Circuit Court was evacuated for several hours Monday due to a bomb threat, according to officials. The courthouse is located at 20 West Courtland Street in Bel Air, and roads in the area were also closed during part of the investigation.

The Bel Air Police Department said the building was evacuated due to a bomb threat, in a statement around 10:45 a.m. "The credibility of this threat is 'low level' at this point," police later added. "No need for further evacuations— in surrounding buildings/areas — unless notified by officials."



The threat came in the form of a phone call that alerted law enforcement to the "possibility of a bomb coming into the Harford County Circuit Courthouse today," the Harford County Sheriff's Office said in a statement before noon. Officials said the courthouse had been evacuated out of an abundance of caution so that law enforcement could secure the building and conduct a thorough investigation.

Bond Street was closed between Office and Courtland streets for the investigation. Courtland, Office and Thomas streets were closed around the courthouse as well. At 1:44 p.m., the sheriff's office advised that it had completed its check of the courthouse building.

"Nothing suspicious was located," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

The building was declared safe and reopened to the public by 1:45 p.m.