Calgary police responded to the First Alberta Place building around 1:15 p.m. Friday after an unknown courier delivered a package.
Police said the business’ staff at 8 Avenue and 7 Street S.W. didn’t recognize the courier and considered it suspicious enough to call police.
The package was not ordered and police said the courier left it without comment.
The tactical team was called to the area and Ceili’s Modern Irish Pub, across the street from First Alberta Place, was evacuated.
At around 7 p.m. more streets in the area were shut down as police worked to remove the package from the building. People in the businesses along 8 Avenue between 5 Street and 8 Street were told to stay inside.
“We had a full restaurant because everyone had to stay a little longer. Everyone was trapped inside,” Trevor Baillie, managing partner at Paper St., said. “We have some good friends in here that couldn’t make it to the Flames game and stuff like that. But safety first.”
By 8 p.m. the package was taken away to a safe location and the streets reopened.
Police have not confirmed whether the package was anything dangerous.
With files from Janet Lore