Capitol Hill Hearing on Airport Security Interrupted by Security Threat

After Capitol Police evacuated several floors in the Dirksen Senate office building Tuesday after a caller reported a suspicious package on the ground floor of the building, Capitol Police cleared the incident and ruled nothing amiss. People were welcomed back to the floors.

"‎The USCP have cleared SD-340 with negative results, nothing hazardous found," Capitol Police said in an emailed statement. "Simultaneously, the USCP cleared a suspicious package (unattended lunch cooler) in the Russell Courtyard with negative results, nothing hazardous found‎."

Capitol Police had said that they received a bomb threat earlier in the afternoon, forcing them to evacuate several floors of the building.

The threat came as a Homeland Security hearing on airport screening was underway. The hearing was evacuated.

"Sad irony that our hearing on airport security in Homeland Security committee was interrupted by security threat," tweeted Sen. Claire McCaskill.

According to Capitol Police, the suspicious package was reportedly in SD-G40 in the Dirksen building.

"The USCP received a phone call reporting a suspicious package in room SD-G40 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building (DSOB). Several floors in the D‎SOB have been evacuated as a precaution while the USCP continues to investigate," Capitol Police said in a statement.

The Senate's subway continued to stop at Dirksen during the investigation. The cafeteria and coffee shop remained open as people get lunch and socialize.