DoingItLocal

(Bridgeport, CT – Sept.  5, 2013) —  Local, state and federal law enforcement responded to Seaside Park today on a report of a pressure cooker left unattended along the shoreline.

The item was observed at about 11 a.m. in the eastern section of the park. The police and fire departments responded and cordoned off a section of the park and requested the assistance of the State Police bomb squad.

State officials conducted a controlled detonation of the item at about 2:45 p.m.

“Any time we receive a report of a suspicious package, we respond with an abundance of caution,” said Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett Jr.  “Today’s incident was no different. Obviously, considering the incident in Boston, we treated this as a credible threat, followed our protocols and requested the assistance of the State Police.”

The incident remains under investigation.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded and set up a 2,000 yard safety zone in the area for vessels on the water. Three buildings at the nearby University of Bridgeport campus were evacuated as a precaution.

The pot appeared to be empty.

11:30pm–#Bridgeport CT–If you are near the club at North and Center Street avoid the man in the red shirt talking to himself and screaming at people passing by.  He is also reported to have a gun in  his pocket.  Police on the way.  He might be on something according to witness.

#Bridgeport CT–Firefighters were busy this evening.   First with the nightly car fire, in front of 199 Yacht Street.  Then they received a call for an odor of gas indoors on Ellsworth Street, they metered and found nothing.  Then off to kitchen fire in the 500 block of Ogden Street which turned out to be food burning on a stove.

7:22pm–#Straford, CT–Police looking for a suspect in the Garibaldi Columbus Ave. area after a minor pursuit.

3:22pm–#Bridgeport CT– Empty pressure cooker detonated by bomb squad at Seaside park.

3:08pm–#Bridgeport CT– Report of a car fire at Jefferson Street and Park Avenue

2:39pm–#Bridgeport CT–The State Police Bomb Squad is at Seaside Park with a suspicious package.  Sources say the item resembles a pressure cooker.  The bomb squad is preparing to detonate the item.  Dormitories around University of Bridgeport have been evacuated near the area as a precaution.  Earlier a toy gun was discovered by a passerby on Iranistan Avenue near the park.