Authorities from the Columbus Air Force Base have issued the all-clear after a bomb threat was made against Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle Friday, said hospital spokesperson Donna Grant.
According to Fred Shelton, interim police chief of the Columbus Police Department, a male caller called the hospital switchboard at approximately 12:13 p.m.
Grant told The Dispatch the caller claimed an explosive device would detonate in the hospital within 15 minutes.
That time came and went without incident.
Grant said the hospital immediately went into disaster mode. Non-essential staff and family members left the hospital until about 3:15 p.m. when the family members waiting outside were allowed back in.
A team of explosive detecting dogs and their handlers from CAFB searched the entire hospital, Shelton said. He did not say how many teams of dogs were at the scene but said that it was a sufficient number to cover the whole area.
Authorities from the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Columbus Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also at the scene.
Essential staff continued to provide care during the search.
“All-in-all, patient safety is our top priority,” Grant said. “The patients are being seen after. We’ll continue to treat ER patients as they come in.”
The Columbus Police Department is handling the investigation.
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