A late-night bomb threat sent law enforcement racing to the FBI field office on Pittsburgh’s South Side on Wednesday, triggering a multi-agency sweep of the building and its surroundings. Officers converged on the 3300 block of East Carson Street while crews methodically searched the facility and checked the perimeter. Authorities later determined the threat was unfounded, but investigators are still working to determine where the call originated and who placed it.
According to WPXI, a Channel 11 photographer captured police activity outside the building shortly after 11 p.m. on Wednesday. A spokesperson told the station that the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police was called in to assist with the search, adding extra boots on the ground to clear the scene.
Which building was searched
The search centered on the FBI Pittsburgh field office on the South Side, which the Bureau lists at 3311 East Carson Street. The office serves as the local hub for federal investigations in the region and posts its territory and contact information on its field office page; details are available on the FBI Pittsburgh site.
Threat found to be unfounded; origin under investigation
Officials told Channel 11 that the bomb threat ultimately turned out to be a false alarm. Even so, they emphasized that “efforts to find the origin of the threat are ongoing,” as WPXI reported. The station reported no arrests and no additional information about possible suspects as of Wednesday night.
Past incidents at the South Side office
This is not the first time the South Side FBI facility has drawn a heavy security response. In July 2016, a man drove a dump truck through the office’s gate, prompting the Pittsburgh police bomb squad to search the vehicle before determining there were no explosives, according to WTAE. Given the office’s prominent role in federal investigations, any hint of a threat in or around the building tends to bring a fast, multi-agency reaction.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about Wednesday night’s call can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov or call the FBI Pittsburgh office at (412) 432-4000. In an immediate emergency, residents should contact 911.
