No threat found at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

UPDATE @ 5:27 p.m.: No threat was found at the Cincinnati Zoo, according to our news partners at WCPO-TV. The facility is now closed for the day and is expected to operate on its normal hours Thursday.

UPDATE @ 5 p.m.

The Cincinnati Zoo released a statement regarding the threat.

“The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden safely evacuated staff and guests today around 3:30 p.m. as a precaution after an unspecified threat was called into Cincinnati Police. The Zoo takes all threats seriously. We will continue to work with Cincinnati Police to ensure the Zoo remains a safe environment.”

FIRST REPORT

A bomb threat this afternoon has forced the evacuation of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.

Cincinnati police confirmed a bomb threat was called in and that the zoo was evacuated of staff and visitors, our media partner WCPO-TV in Cincinnati reported.

K-9 units are on the way and Cincinnati Police Department’s District 4 officers responded to the zoo, Lt. Steve Saunders told WCPO.

Lucas Hartsock of Dayton told our newsroom that he was at the Cincinnati Zoo with his 3-year-old son today for not even an hour when the zoo was evacuated. Hartsock said he went out a construction gate and followed construction workers to the nearest exit. He said he was told by a security guard it was a bomb threat that was believed to be related to Harambe, the gorilla shot and killed after a young boy got into the gorilla exhibit. Zoo officials and police have not confirmed the threat was related to Harambe.