Atlantic Station fully reopens after bomb threat forces evacuations

ATLANTA - A bomb threat prompted the evacuation of a popular shopping district in Atlantic Station on Thursday.

Atlanta police responded to a call at a business along 19th Street NW.

What we know:

The threat was reported shortly before 5 p.m. at the Regal Atlantic Station located at 261 19th St. NW, according to the Atlanta Police Department.

Lt. John Chafee of the Atlanta Police Department stated, "We got a call of a phoned-in bomb threat at the theater behind us in Atlantic Station. Officers responded to the scene. The theater was evacuated, and several nearby businesses were as well."

The area was evacuated out of an abundance of caution as officers worked to determine the validity of the threat. "Our canine units responded to the scene. We have swept the building and at this point, no device has been found," Chafee said. "Just gave the all clear to the building, and we're allowing customers to go back inside."

The investigation involved multiple K-9 units due to the size of the business. "It's a large business, so multiple dogs were here, multiple K-9s to help sweep the area," Chafee explained.

As of now, no device has been found, and the area has been deemed safe for the public to return.

What we don't know:

Chafee noted that the theater staff initiated the evacuation, but the exact number of evacuees was not immediately available. "I don't have the number on that. The theater staff actually began that evacuation, so I'm not sure that we'll have an exact number on that at all," he said. At least two neighboring businesses were also evacuated.

The investigation is ongoing, with Homeland Security investigators alerted to the situation. "Ultimately, we're going to be trying to determine who phoned this in, locate that person, and charge them accordingly," Chafee stated.