A Baltimore firefighters and police determined that a suspicious van leaking gas Monday—causing the evacuations of surrounding buildings—was being used to steal diesel and didn't pose a threat.
The vehicle was discovered just before 9:15 a.m. in a parking garage by the T. Rowe Price building in the city's downtown, near the Inner Harbor, following a report of a gas smell, WJZ-TV reports. Several office buildings, as well as nearby hotels and restaurants, within a four-block area were evacuated while authorities continued to investigate.
At about 4 p.m., Mayor Jack Young released a statement saying no bomb was detected but that police were still "conducting precautionary sweeps." He advised people to stay away from the evacuated area.
Originally, it was thought that the van contained 1,000 gallons of fuel, but that amount was actually less. Cables that also appeared to be hazardous were only being used to steal the fuel.
