Police and fire officials responded to Seaside Park in Bridgeport after a pressure cooker was found under a tree near the shore, authorities said.
Local police and fire officials arrived to investigate, along with a State Police Bomb Squad. Federal authorites were alerted as a precaution, according to a spokesman from the Bridgeport Police Department.
Authorities said it happened around 11 a.m.
The coast guard set up a 2,000-yard perimeter in the water near the scene, limiting boat traffic. Service to the Bridgeport Port Jefferson Ferry was delayed as a result, police said.
The bomb squad conducted a controlled detonation of the device, and the area was declared safe around 2:45 p.m. The scene has been cleared, according to police.
"Any time we receive a report of a suspicious packagbe, we respond with an abundance of caution," said Bridgeport Police Cheif Joseph L. Gaudett, Jr., in a statement. "Today's incident was no different. Obviously, considering the incident in Boston, we treated this as a credible threat, followed our protocols and requested the assistance of State Police."
The pressure cooker was taken to the police department as evidence. Authorities are investigating to determine whether or not it was placed in the park on purpose, police said.
Police said the pressure cooker appeared to be empty.
The University of Bridgeport evacuated the Health Sciences building and Eleanor Dana Hall were evacuated as a precaution, according to university officials.
The university is located right near the park.
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