Bomb squad clears Ross Park Mall after threat

None — ROSS TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Police said a bomb threat was reported at Ross Park Mall in Ross Township early Wednesday morning.

Investigators and the bomb squad responded to the scene.

All roads leading up to the mall were blocked as police searched the buildling.

A mall spokeswoman released a statement saying, "Early this morning a mall employee found a note on a wall in a mall restroom stating there was a bomb inside Ross Park Mall. The Mall was immediately evacuated."

After several hours, mall officials said police cleared the building and the mall reopened to customers at 11 a.m.

"With the assistance of Ross Township Police and other local municipalities, Ross Park Mall has been cleared and will open at 11 a.m. We want to assure customers and employees that every precaution was taken, the situation was addressed and Ross Township Police has determined there was never any danger or device at the mall," a spokeswoman said.

"We are well-versed with going through the mall and checking and making sure all of the areas are clear. We know all of the back hallways as well as the retail stores," said Ross Police Det. Brian Kohlhepp.

Investigators said they used specially trained K9s to search the mall for any explosives.

"Everything has been deemed safe. There was never any threat. No one was ever in danger. But just because of the nature of this we wanted to be extra cautious," Kohlhepp said.

WPXI