Updated: Thursday, 03 Nov 2011, VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - According to scanner traffic, a suspicious package has been found on the grounds of the Terre Haute Federal Penitentiary and after x-rays of the package, it is believed to be a bomb. Sergeant Joe Watts with the Indiana State Police has confirmed to News 10 that three ISP bomb technicians have been called to the scene. Scanner traffic also mentioned of possible evacuations but it was unclear of where the evacuations were taking place. Officials have told News 10 that there was an "isolated incident" at the prison and that the public was not at risk. They also said that the inmates at the penitentiary were kept secure during the incident and they were not in any danger. News 10's Joe Astrouski is at the scene and he says that delivery trucks have been turned away. A News 10 crew is at the scene and we will update once more information is available.

Bomb scare puts prison on lockdown

Updated: Thursday, 03 Nov 2011, 2:00 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 03 Nov 2011, 10:29 AM EDT

VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A bomb scare at the Terre Haute Federal Penitentiary on Thursday morning put the prison on lockdown.

According to a press release, while the penitentiary staff was screening the inmates’ mail, a suspicious package was found.

The mail room was then secured and three members of the Indiana State Police Explosive Ordinance Team were called to the scene and the package was then removed.

The ISP EOD technicians utilized X-ray and determined the package was not an (IED) Improvised Explosive Device. They completed their work and left the prison at 1:30 p.m.

It was determined that there was no bomb in the package.

The complex returned to normal operations on Thursday afternoon.

They say that this was an isolated incident and that the public was not at risk.