Police in Borås, Sweden responded to reports of a suspicious device on Friday morning. Residents discovered the object in a stairwell leading to a laundry room in a multi-family building on Distansgatan in Hässleholmen.
Authorities cordoned off a large area around the building. They issued a civil defense alert to residents in the vicinity.
Police evacuated two stairwells and advised remaining residents to stay indoors. Officers told people not to move around the area during the investigation.
A police spokesperson said several units responded to the scene. They awaited assessment from the national bomb protection unit.
The spokesperson explained the expanded security perimeter. They wanted to account for any potential incidents during the bomb squad's work.
Initial reports suggested the object was a thermos with protruding wires. The bomb squad later determined the device posed no danger to the public.
Police classified the preliminary investigation as attempted public destruction. They planned additional searches of the area to confirm no other threats existed.
This incident highlights how seriously Swedish authorities treat potential security threats, even when they ultimately prove false. The thorough response demonstrates standard protocol for suspicious items in residential areas.