‘Suspicious bag’ found in mall brings bomb squad, disrupts business

UPDATED Monday Dec. 18, 1 PM

According to police a situation that unfolded Sunday at the mall, initially reported as a “suspicious bag,” was eventually determined to be harmless.

Monday afternoon police information officer Heather Hamel confirmed that the reason police descended on the mall Sunday in the area of Red Robin was that a bag was located by someone in the mall. Upon initial inspection the bag was thought to be suspicious and police were called.

The State Police bomb squad responded and determined that the bag was not dangrous and there was no threat to the public. No further information was available about the origin or contents of the bag.

UPDATE: 5 p.m. –  All clear: According to police the situation is being cleared. We are expecting more information to follow.

Original Story below

MANCHESTER, NH – A heavy presence of police cruisers with lights flashing assembled outside Red Robin at the Mall of New Hampshire Sunday afternoon.

According to the Manchester Police daily activity log there were two separate calls logged for 1500 S. Willow St. before 3 p.m. – the first call for an assault in progress at JC Penney at 2:55 p.m., and the second call which read “BOMB fire call, Red Robin” at 2:57 p.m.

As of 4:22 Manchester Police communications officer Heather Hamel confirmed that the two calls were unrelated.

“I can tell you police are there and we ask that people stay out of the area,” Hamel said.

Yellow caution tape was stretched by police across the mall entrance, which is between Dick’s and Macy’s, to secure the area.

The NH State Police Bomb Squad reported to the scene, which was eventually cleared by about 5 p.m., according to Hamel. No statement was made at the scene or released by police about the nature of the incident as of 5:15 p.m.

We’ll update this story as more information becomes available. Brief video footage from the scene below.