Seattle port terminal evacuated, bomb squad called

SEATTLE, Aug 16 (Reuters) A terminal at the Port of Seattle was evacuated today and a bomb squad was investigating a ship container that alarmed bomb-sniffing dogs, a port spokesman said.

Authorities set up a 2,000-foot (610-metre) perimeter around Terminal 18, just south of downtown Seattle, port spokesman David Schaefer said.

The container first raised suspicion when a screening using gamma ray technology about the contents' density did not match the items listed on the ships' manifest. Then bomb-sniffing dogs indicated the possible presence of explosives.

''There is a bomb disposal unit looking further into the container to try and figure what exactly is in the contents,'' said port spokesman David Schaefer.

All nonessential port personnel have been evacuated, Schaefer said.

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