Phoenix, Arizona — A tense security situation unfolded Monday morning in downtown Phoenix after a suspicious package discovered inside the mail room of the Arizona Supreme Court tested positive for explosive material, prompting the evacuation of multiple government buildings and a large law enforcement response.
Authorities said the package was found around 8 a.m. and contained several small vials. Initial testing revealed that two of the vials were positive for an unspecified homemade explosive substance, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
As a precaution, officials ordered the evacuation of not only the Supreme Court building, but also nearby state offices, including the Arizona State Courts building, the Department of Education, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Department of Administration.
Court not in session at time of discovery
Officials confirmed that the Arizona Supreme Court was not in session when the package was discovered, reducing the number of people inside the building at the time. Even so, employees and visitors were immediately directed to evacuate as bomb technicians and hazardous materials teams secured the area.
“When they notified all staff that we needed to evacuate, I think there were a lot of questions we didn’t necessarily have answers to,” said Alberto Rodriguez, a communications director with the Arizona Supreme Court. “We were just following directions.”
The courthouse remained closed for several hours as authorities conducted a full security sweep of the building and surrounding offices.
Bomb technician removes device in protective gear
Later in the day, a trained bomb technician wearing full protective equipment was seen carefully removing the package from the building. The device was placed inside a sphere-shaped containment unit, a standard tool used to safely transport explosive materials.
According to local outlet AZ Family, the containment unit was then escorted by a police motorcade to a secure location, where the device was slated for controlled detonation.
“It doesn’t feel good when it reaches your workplace,” Rodriguez said. “You hear about these things all the time, but it’s unfortunate that it happened here at the Arizona Supreme Court.”
Limited details released as investigation continues
Authorities have released very little information about the package so far, including where it originated or whether it was capable of detonating on its own. Officials also have not said whether the package was intentionally mailed to the court or mistakenly routed there.
What is known is that no injuries were reported, and officials credited quick action by staff and law enforcement for preventing harm.
The Phoenix Police Department and state bomb squad remained on scene into the afternoon as investigators worked to secure the area and determine next steps.
Buildings reopened later in the day
After hours of inspections and security checks, officials cleared the Supreme Court building and surrounding offices for reentry at approximately 3:30 p.m. Employees were told they would be allowed to return to work on Tuesday, following the holiday closure.
The Department of Public Safety emphasized that evacuations were conducted out of an abundance of caution, a standard approach when any potentially explosive material is identified in a government facility.
Growing concern over courthouse security
The incident comes amid heightened national concerns over courthouse and government building security. While officials have not linked this event to any broader threat, the discovery of explosive material inside a high-profile state building has raised fresh questions about mail screening procedures and public safety protections.
“We don’t know yet where it came from or what its intended purpose was,” officials said, adding that the investigation remains active.
Law enforcement agencies continue to analyze the package and its contents, and more information is expected to be released as the investigation develops.
For now, state officials say operations will resume as normal, but security protocols may be reviewed following the incident.
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