WASHINGTON — Police investigated a bomb threat at the Smithsonian National Zoo in D.C. Tuesday afternoon. DC Police evacuated the park as a precaution and some roads in the area were closed, but nothing dangerous was found.
Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to the zoo, located in the 3000 block of Connecticut Avenue Northwest around 11:15 a.m. A command post was established as authorities conducted a full sweep of the park. The police department's Explosive Ordinance Disposal Squad completed the sweet and found no hazardous materials.
Police closed 2900 - 3100 block of Connecticut Avenue Northwest for the investigation, but roads have since reopened.
The Zoo issued a brief statement on social media around 12:30 p.m., saying they'd communicate all reopening information when they knew more details.
"Out of an abundance of caution, staff and visitors have been evacuated as the Metropolitan Police Department investigates," the Zoo said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Zoo also added that all other Smithsonian museums remain open.
After being given the all clear, the Zoo said it would remain closed Tuesday and reopen on Wednesday, Aug. 30.
This latest threat comes after authorities in Maryland and Virginia have investigated a series of threats at schools.
Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones is taking a firm stance against false threats, known as swatting, after a series of incidents in the region caused several unnecessary evacuations.
Last week, Bullis High School in Potomac, Maryland was evacuated over a bomb threat.
On Aug. 18, shoppers at Montgomery Mall were also evacuated following a similar threat.
Both threats were deemed to be not credible, according to Montgomery County Police. And no arrests have been made as a result of the false threats.
RELATED: 'Don't play with people's lives' | Montgomery County Police Chief warns about swatting calls
In Stafford County, a student is facing charges after police say they left a threatening message on an elementary school's voicemail this weekend.
According to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, the violent threat was discovered on Anthony Burns Elementary School's voicemail Monday.