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OTTAWA – Ottawa police said Wednesday a robot had been used to render “safe” a suspicious package near the Langevin Block, the building across from Parliament Hill that houses the Prime Minister’s Office.

The building was evacuated Wednesday morning amid reports of a suspicious person and package in the area. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was not in the building.

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Police also closed Wellington Street, the street in front of the Parliament Buildings, for two blocks, and taped off roads in the area.

RCMP officers were questioning a man who was put into a police cruiser. A joint RCMP-Ottawa police team that deals with potentially hazardous materials had been called to the scene.

The Conservative government’s throne speech was to be delivered Wednesday afternoon, across the road in the House of Commons.

The Langevin Building dates back to 1883.

The RCMP were releasing few details. “We responded to a suspicious package. The building was evacuated at the time of the incident. The prime minister was not on the premises. Shortly after the incident a male person was taken into custody in relation to this incident and the RCMP is investigating,” a spokesperson said.