Threat of three bombs caused evacuation at Hall of Justice

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The State Police Bomb Squad was called-in at the Hampden County Hall of Justice, after a man threatened that there were three bombs inside the building.

Supreme Judicial Court spokesperson Erika Gully-Santiago told 22News that a man called the courthouse Thursday morning, telling an employee that there were three bombs in the building.

People from inside the courthouse were moved to the nearby MassMutual Center after the threat was made. Guards were not allowing people onto the sidewalks near the State Street courthouse, or the nearby Juvenile and Housing Courts.

The bomb squad searched the building, and Gully-Santiago says, after an extensive search, it was discovered that there was no threat.

People trying to get inside the courthouse, like Dr. Frank Wilson, found themselves out of luck.

"I parked nearby. the parking lot attendant said 'you're not going to get in,' because there were a lot of people walking away from the building. I was told there was a bomb threat," Wilson said.

Jessica Hansen of the MassMutual Center told 22News that during the evacuation, prisoners who were being held at the Hall of Justice were moved to a meeting room at the MassMutual Center, where they were kept under close guard.

People were let back into the building around noon time, about two hours after they were evacuated.