The Arizona Supreme Court and adjacent buildings were evacuated on Jan. 5 after a suspicious package received in the court mailroom tested positive for homemade explosives, reportedly containing "multiple vials." Law enforcement including the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the ATF responded, and the State Courts Building remained closed while additional sweeps were completed. No injuries were reported; the package will be removed for further testing and disposal. Authorities have not identified a suspect and the investigation is ongoing.
Arizona Supreme Court Evacuated After Suspicious Package Tests Positive for Homemade Explosives
12 News/YoutubeArizona Supreme Court
On Monday, Jan. 5, the Arizona Supreme Court and several nearby buildings on the Capitol Mall were evacuated after a suspicious package received by the court's mailroom tested positive for what authorities described as homemade explosives.
Officials with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) said they were notified at about 8 a.m. local time and conducted on-scene tests that indicated the package contained "multiple vials" of homemade explosive substances, according to reporting by ABC15. Court operations were expected to resume as normal on Tuesday, Jan. 6 while the State Courts Building remained closed to allow for additional sweeps.
A coordinated law enforcement response
DPS spokeswoman Bart Graves told PEOPLE that "multiple buildings were evacuated on the Capitol Mall, including the State Courts building, which houses the Arizona State Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, Division One." The Phoenix branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said on its X account that agents were dispatched to investigate the suspicious substance.
The court sent a notice to staff stating: "a suspicious package was received by our mailroom and has tested positive for homemade explosives," a document obtained by ABC15 shows. Authorities said the item would be removed for further examination and subsequent disposal once sweeps and safety checks were complete.
"Thank you to our first responders and law enforcement for their swift action following the evacuation of the Arizona Supreme Court after a suspicious package tested positive for explosives," Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs wrote on X. "Public safety is my top priority; I will continue to monitor this situation closely and ensure Arizonans stay informed."
What is known and what remains under investigation
No injuries were reported. Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect, nor have they released details about how the package was delivered, whether it was handled before law enforcement was notified, or the exact size of the package. The incident remains under active investigation, according to the Arizona Republic.
Sources: Reporting from ABC15, PEOPLE, the Arizona Republic and official statements from DPS and the ATF.
Help us improve.
