ATLANTA - Atlanta police say a suspicious package reported at the Israeli Consulate in Midtown Monday morning turned out not to be dangerous.
What we know:
Officers responded to the building in the 1100 block of Spring Street around 10:40 a.m. after receiving calls about the package. Police quickly set up a perimeter, and SWAT officers along with bomb squad members were called to the scene.
SKYFOX 5 cameras captured officers in tactical gear entering the consulate and police vehicles blocking off nearby roads as the investigation unfolded.
Officials later confirmed the package was not a threat. They said it was a shoebox containing a household item.
What they're saying:
Statement from Consul General Eitan Weiss, consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States released the following statement:
"Thankfully the suspicious package that was delivered to the Consulate this morning was nothing more than a package from an unknown sender. However, the fact remains that our security at the Consulate General of Israel in Atlanta, and that of every Israeli Diplomatic Mission around the world is on heightened alert and has to report each instance of an unknown package.
"Sadly, this serves as an example of the tactics intentionally taken by those who are anti zionists and would choose to harm anyone and everyone they can. In this case it would includ every other company that shares the office building with us and all surrounding businesses, including the daycare that is across the street.
"That is why it is important for everyone to understand that the anti Semitism that fuels the anti Israel rhetoric which justifies violence against Jews and Israel at any cost are not just a Jewish and or Israeli problem. It affects the community at large particularly law enforcement who are the first responders.
"I want to take this opportunity to thank the Atlanta Police Department and all of our law enforcement partners in Georgia for their quick response and their continued vigilance."
The Source: Information in this article came from Atlanta police and SKYFOX 5. It has been updated with new information provided by APD. This article has been updated with a statement from the Consul General Eitan Weiss, consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States.