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San Francisco Bomb Scare Leads To Freeway Shutdown, Massive Traffic Jam

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A San Francisco police bomb squad investigation into a suspicious incident near the city's Hall of Justice late Thursday morning led to the shutdown of I-80, bringing traffic into the city to a standstill.

Police initially posted on Twitter about the incident at 11:31 a.m. in the area of Seventh and Bryant streets and advised people to avoid the area.

A number of business in the area were locked down, including the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant Street, although authorities eventually allowed people to leave the building.

Police later said they received what they referred to as "suspicious information" about a white sedan that was parked right under I-80 near the Hall of Justice.

Authorities later confirmed that it was a note left on the vehicle is what led to the investigation.

The Seventh Street off-ramp from eastbound Interstate Highway 80 was also closed, according to police.

Interstate 80 closed in both directions at 7th St. in San Francisco as police bomb squad investigates suspicious device next to Hall of Justice. Traffic backed up everywhere. http://cbsloc.al/2epULaf

Posted by KPIX CBS San Francisco Bay Area on Thursday, October 20, 2016

Shortly before 1 p.m., authorities shut down I-80 between Highway 101 and 5th Street in both directions. Authorities were also closing on-ramps to I-80 and directing westbound traffic off the freeway after drivers cross the Bay Bridge.

Northbound I-280 was also closed at 101.

Shortly after 1:15 p.m., westbound traffic off the Bay Bridge was being allowed through the area. However, traffic was again stopped in both directions as of 1:45 p.m.

CHP announced that all lanes and on-ramps for on 101 and I-80 were reopened at about 2:20 p.m.

Minutes later, San Francisco police said that the scene had been deemed safe and all shelter-in-place orders were lifted.

Court hearings at the Hall of Justice were postponed until Friday, San Francisco Superior Court officials said.

TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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