Suspicious package investigation in downtown Anchorage prompts temporary road closure

Anchorage police contained and removed a suspicious package from a vehicle downtown Tuesday afternoon.

The investigation prompted police to close Fifth Avenue between E and H streets, the department said around 2:30 p.m. in an online alert, but no one was evacuated from surrounding buildings.

A robotic retrieval device carried a brown box out of the alleyway between Fourth and Fifth avenues on G Street around 3:30 p.m. and placed it in a total-containment vessel for further investigation.

The police department’s Explosives Ordinance Disposal Unit was called to assist the investigation, said spokeswoman Kendra Doshier. Police did not say why the package was suspicious.

“We do want to assure the public that we are taking all necessary precautions to keep everyone safe as we investigate,“ she said.

Fifth Avenue reopened around 4 p.m. after police had removed the containment vessel from the scene.

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