Suspicious package found, cleared at MOA

Officials at the Mall of America have ended a partial lockdown that was triggered when someone noticed a suspicious package inside the mall's south side.

Mall of America spokesman Dan Jasper said the Bloomington Police were called to investigate the package, which turned out to be harmless.

The mall had put a section of the shopping center on lockdown for about an hour while police investigated. Police asked customers to remain in stores until the area was deemed safe.

"They checked on the package, and they cleared it, and everything is back to normal," Jasper said.

Jasper said reports of suspicious packages are common, and he said the mall conducts frequent practice drills.

"We're the only mall in the nation that practices lockdown drills," he said. "And we do that every single month, believe it or not, just like a school does a fire drill."

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