Tulane and Broad bomb-threat

The Orleans Parish Criminal District Courthouse was evacuated Thursday (April 24) afternoon for approximately 40 minutes after authorities found a suspicious package on the premises.

(Chris Granger/NOLA.com |The Times-Picayune)

The Orleans Parish Criminal District Courthouse was evacuated Thursday (April 24) afternoon for approximately 40 minutes after authorities found a suspicious package on the premises.

The courthouse on the corner of Tulane Avenue and Broad Street was evacuated shortly before 2:30 p.m. after a suspicious bag with a note attached to it was found leaning against the doors of the building's main entrance,

said.

Inside the black bag was a 2-liter bottle which had been placed inside a kitchen pot, said Judicial Administrator Robert Kazik.

After authorities examined the package, the contents were found to be harmless and people were allowed back into the building. Kazik said that "bodily fluids" - likely vomit - were found inside the bottle.

The suspicious bag contained a red kitchen pot with a bottle inside of it, authorities said.

While courthouse evacuations are not uncommon, Kazik said the circumstances of Thursday's incident warranted extra precautions.

Police cordoned off the entrance of the building with yellow crime scene tape and bystanders were asked to gather on the opposite side of Broad Street while authorities investigated the incident.

*Note: This article has been updated to reflect new information from authorities