Govt building in Canberra evacuated, police later say package not suspicious

BREAKING: Package found at DFAT deemed non-suspicious. More info to come #DFATevac

— ACT Policing (@ACTPolicing) December 16, 2014

#BREAKING: @dfat evacuated after discovery of suspicious package http://t.co/dbHAQ8oczi pic.twitter.com/nQwIPAVy8m #Canberra

— Herald Sun (@theheraldsun) December 16, 2014

Police are investigating the package found in the staff canteen area at lunchtime. In a statement, police said it has cordoned off the area as a standard safety precaution. “Evacuations are underway at DFAT and road closures implemented. Members of the AFP (Australian Federal Police) Bomb Response Team are in attendance,” the statement said.

DFAT staff evacuated from Canberra building, a caterer tells the ABC the suspicious package was a backpack in canteen pic.twitter.com/RxdoAvFsAg

— Andrew Greene (@AndrewBGreene) December 16, 2014

Media reports said that hundreds of public servant were evacuated from the building which is close to Parliament House and police blocked traffic on state circle. A childcare centre is also attached to the building which is also closer to the Parliament building.

Some staff claimed that a backpack had been left unattended in the canteen and the building was evacuated about 10 minutes after it was noticed, reports said.