Bomb threat closes Capitol temporarily

AUSTIN - A bomb threat closed the Texas Capitol to incoming traffic for nearly two hours Wednesday morning, according the Department of Public Safety.

DPS received a report at 8:45 that someone called the office of House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, to report that an explosive device was in the Capitol, said DPS spokeswoman Lisa Block.

The Capitol was not evacuated, but those coming to work and tourists arriving were not allowed in, Block said. It was reopened at 10:30 a.m., she said.

DPS is investigating the call, Block said.

Craddick was not at the Capitol when the threat was called in, said spokeswoman Alexis DeLee.

“He’s not in Austin,” DeLee said.

The Legislature is not in session, but the Capitol is home to year-round offices of the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House, secretary of State, and hundreds of legislative staff members.

The building is among the most visited tourist attractions in Texas.