Intense police mobilization, including a helicopter, took place this Thursday afternoon in Merida, Yucatan after the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) activated the Code Red to respond to an alleged bomb threat in the hotel zone of Paseo de Montejo.
Several units of the Coordinated State Police, State Investigative Police (PEI), State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), the Fire Department Rescue Corps, and even the SSP’s Bell 429 Helicopter arrived in a hurry at the Hotel Villa Mercedes located on Avenida Colón and Calle 60.
This was derived from a report received through the emergency number, for a suspicious package that was outside the hotel, which was placed shortly after noon.
According to the corporation, through an official communiqué, a worker from a parcel delivery company arrived at the site and left the box outside the lobby, but no worker signed for it or acknowledged the delivery.
As a result, employees at the front desk informed the hotel management and this department contacted 9-1-1 to report the presence of a box whose contents were uncertain.
Given the possibility that it was a bomb, all necessary precautions were taken, such as activating Code Red, the highest level in Yucatan, to protect the safety of guests and workers, who were quickly evacuated.
In addition, the area was monitored from the air and the area was cordoned off from 100 meters around, closing vehicular and pedestrian traffic for approximately one hour.
Once the presence of an explosive device was ruled out, the box was removed by the firemen and the security cordon was lifted, which also opened the way to traffic and everything remained a false alarm.
Source: SIPSE