Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard reports that at approximately 11:55 a.m. an Officer with the New York State Office of Court Administration notified the Sheriff's Office about a phone call where an individual stated a bomb was in the building. 

Court Administration Officers evacuated the building, and the Erie County Bomb Squad responded to the scene as well as explosive detection K9 teams from the Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo Police, NFTA Police, and Department of Homeland Security – Protective Services Division; seven K9 teams total.

The K9 teams, along with members of the Erie County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad, searched the floors of 25 Delaware Avenue and 92 Franklin Street and cleared the premises at approximately 3:00 p.m.; nothing was discovered.

As per NYS Court Administration policies and procedures, both buildings were evacuated at the time of the phone call, and the Buffalo Police Department closed streets surrounding the buildings following the threat.

The incident has been turned over to Detectives with the Sheriff’s Investigative Services and agents assigned to the Buffalo Office of the FBI are assisting with the investigation.

According to the NYS Court Administration, the building will reopen at 3:45 p.m. to allow employees and visitors to gather personal belonging left behind during the evacuation (For additional information about the courts and future schedules, please contact the Office of Court Administration).

The Buffalo Police have reopened area roads.