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State Capitol Closed Monday By Bomb Threat

A bomb threat Monday led to the evacuation of the Illinois State Capitol building in Springfield, but the building was reopened after authorities concluded there was no danger.

Dave Drucker, a spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White, says the threat was phoned in about 2:30 p.m. Monday, and Secretary of State Police evacuated the Capitol in downtown Springfield.

Drucker says the department's bomb-sniffing dog was on the scene.

However, Capitol Police reopened the building about three hours later after no bomb was found.

The Legislature is not in session.  

Monday's incident follows a series of bomb threats called in to Springfield public schools in recent weeks. During a crucial Illinois House budget vote in July, lawmakers and hundreds of others in the state Capitol were locked down while police investigated a suspicious substance found outside the governor's office.  

  • The Associated Press and Statehouse Reporter Brian Mackey contributed to this story.