Courthouse Evacuated After Bomb Threat

The Multnomah County Courthouse and the nearby area had to be evacuated Thursday after a caller told a 911 operator that two bombs would explode in the building at 4 p.m.

Nearby streets and the Portland Building were emptied as members of Portland’s bomb unit searched the courthouse. No explosives were found, said Phil Farrell, a spokesman for the Multnomah County sheriff’s office.

A male caller phoned in the threat to 911 dispatch at 1:16 p.m. About 15 minutes later, hundreds of people - including 73 inmates - were evacuated from the courthouse. The inmates were transferred.

A six block area was roped off in downtown Portland.

“This is a big inconvenience,” said Bob Rieck, finance director for the Portland Water Bureau. “It really messes things up, but I think the precautions have to be taken.”

Normally police get about one bomb threat or suspicious package call a day, said Portland Lt. Cliff Madison. But since the bombing Saturday morning at the Olympics in Atlanta, Portland police have received about six calls a day.