Homeland Security, FBI Examine Suspicious Package PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police said a blue, balloon-like canister with a white powder substance is being investigated on Independence Mall.
The discovery was made just before 3 p.m. Thursday near the Liberty Bell Center on the 500 block of Chestnut Street. Multiple buildings have been evacuated and streets are closed in the area.
The Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and fire crews have also been called to the scene to assist police with the investigation and determine what is in the object.
It occurs to me that they could greatly expedite this investigation by putting out a picture of the thing to the media. It's probably some innocent object that many people would recognize if they saw it.