Another suspicious package found downtown

For the fifth time in three days, the police Bomb & Arson section responded to a report of a suspicious package. And once again, Friday's incident proved no threat.

A suspicious briefcase was found about 10:35 a.m. in the 100 block of South Racine Avenue and police Bomb & Arson Section officers remotely determined the briefcase was safe, police said. No explosives were found.

Four other suspicious packages were found Downtown and on the Near North Side Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

About 8:15 a.m. Thursday, a package was found outside the Planned Parenthood at 1200 N. LaSalle Blvd., police News Affairs Officer Laura Kubiak said. Streets were shut down and pedestrians were kept away until everything was cleared about 10 a.m., police said. A police robot flattened the box, which was found to contain a dead possum wrapped in paper.

About 10:10 a.m. Thursday, a hazardous materials response was initiated when a suspicious envelope was found inside the Dirksen Building at 219 S. Dearborn St., Fire Media Affairs spokesman Quention Curtis said. The envelope was deemed safe about 10:55 a.m.

At 8:50 p.m. Wednesday, a suspicious package was found in the 1500 block of North Wells Street, police News Affairs Officer Hector Alfaro said.

And at 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, another package was reported near North Water Street and East Columbus Drive, Alfaro said. Both packages were deemed safe.