Southside Learning Academy and South Side Neighborhood Evacuated Due to Suspicious Package

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UPDATE: Around 1:50 pm, a Chicago south side school and neighborhood, were evacuated after a suspicious package was reported in the area.

The 7200 and 7300 blocks of South Bell Ave., as well as the Southside Learning Center aka the Southside Occupational Academy (7342 S. Hoyne Ave.), which specializes in dealing with students with specials needs, were evacuated by police.

At the time of my report, school buses were picking the children up.

EMS was also called to removed a person on a ventilator on the 7300 block of South Bell Ave.

At 2:25 p.m., police were notified 3 people, possibly children, were still in the Southside Learning Center. A brief investigation established that the remaining occupants were building engineers.

The Phillip Randolph School was also evacuated.

At 3:36 p.m. the Bomb & Arson Unit detonated a controlled explosion near the 7300 block of South Hoyne Ave. - destroying the suspicious package.