Dallas police responded Tuesday afternoon to a dallas bomb threat scare in the 900 block of Pacific Avenue, near the historic West End district, after officers were called to investigate a suspicious item at downtown street level. The scene triggered a heavy police presence, major traffic disruptions, and a lockdown at Dallas College El Centro campus because of the nearby investigation. The all-clear came just before 1: 30 p. m. ET after the police bomb squad opened an SUV and found a sword inside.
Police shut down part of downtown as the investigation unfolded
Officers cordoned off a section of downtown Dallas on Tuesday afternoon while they examined the suspicious package in the 900 block of Pacific Avenue. The Dallas Police Department said the item was found near the city’s historic West End district, and officials initially did not release a description of the package or explain exactly how it was discovered.
The situation quickly slowed traffic across the downtown core. Police warned that significant delays were expected while the response remained active, and roadways in the immediate area stayed closed during the investigation.
Dallas College El Centro campus locked down nearby
Dallas College El Centro campus was placed on lockdown because of its proximity to the scene. The campus action came while officers continued to assess whether the suspicious item posed a threat to the area.
The suspicious package was later identified as an SUV parked at the intersection, though it was not immediately clear whether the concern centered on the vehicle itself or something inside it. That uncertainty kept the response active as bomb squad personnel moved in.
Bomb squad clears SUV and finds sword inside
The Dallas Police bomb squad used a charge to pop the rear lift of the SUV being investigated. After the lift was opened, the bomb squad pulled a sword out of the vehicle.
A police all-clear was given just before 1: 30 p. m. ET, and all roadways were allowed to reopen. Dallas police said they will provide updates as more information becomes available, and the investigation remains ongoing.
What officials have confirmed so far
Officials have not said what prompted the original alarm beyond the report of a suspicious package in the downtown area. The sequence now confirmed by police is limited to the response, the lockdown, the bomb squad action, and the sword discovery inside the SUV.
For now, the dallas bomb threat scare has ended with the area reopened, but police are still working to sort out the circumstances that led to the downtown shutdown and the campus lockdown. Any further update could clarify how the suspicious package report began and why the SUV drew such a rapid response.
