Suspicious Package Causes Evacuations In Downtown Atlanta

Update 1:46 p.m. -- MARTA said Friday afternoon that service was returning to normal following evacuations in several buildings in downtown Atlanta after a suspicious package was found. MARTA had suspended service to its Five Points station, but sent an update via Twitter saying that the agency had received the "All Clear."

The transit system also said that services had returned to normal on the N/S & E/W rail lines.

ATLANTA, GA -- Buildings around Underground Atlanta were evacuated Friday as law enforcement officials investigated a suspicious package at the scene, Patch has learned. MARTA has suspended service at its Five Points station and is rerouting riders via buses and shuttles.

"Due to police activity at Five Points, customers requiring E/W travel between Vine City-King Memorial must board shuttle buses in the bus bay areas," MARTA said in a statement about 1 p.m. Friday.

Georgia State University post a message on Twitter alerting its staff, faculty and student body about the incident. GSU has bought much of the property around Underground as the city has ceded much of the office space around the Five Points Marta Station to school classrooms and administrative buildings.

People in downtown Atlanta took to social media to describe the scene, which included helicopters hovering over Peachtree Street downtown.

MARTA also took to social media to tell riders that service on the blue/green line was delayed “due to police activity at Five Points." The agency also said this: "A suspicious pkg, not on MARTA but close enough, so EOD evacuated 5 Pts & trains can't use the station. APD & MPD working jointly."

A short time later, MARTA announced on Twitter that it was turning trains away from downtown: "MPD continues investigation of suspicious pkg outside of 5 Pts. Eastbound trains turning at Vine City. Westbound turning at King Memorial."

The evacuations are a precaution after utility workers noticed a suitcase with wires in it and alerted authorities, Channel 2 Action News reported. Multiple businesses have been impacted in the vicinity of Peachtree, Decatur and Alabama streets.

GSU said on Twitter that no GSU buildings were affected in the incident.

This is a developing story. Stay with Patch for the latest.

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