Salt Lake City courthouse cleared after hoax letter with powder, bomb threat

A suspicious letter containing a white powdery substance and vague bomb threats led to evacuations and shelter-in-place orders at a courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City, according to officials and local media. The threat was later deemed a hoax.

The incident was reported shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday at the John L. Baxter Courthouse, also known as the Salt Lake City Justice Courthouse.

Sgt. Gregory Wilking with the Salt Lake City Police Department told KTVX that the courthouse received a suspicious letter containing a white powdery substance and what was described as vague bomb threats.

KUTV reported that some people were evacuated while others were told to shelter in place, and that hazmat crews were at the scene.

The courthouse was cleared at about 6 p.m. and the threat was determined to be a hoax, according to KUTV anchor and reporter Heidi Hatch.

No injuries were reported. It was not immediately clear what the threat said.