Federal and local law enforcement in Washington, D.C., are investigating a suspicious package reported near the Ukrainian Embassy on Friday morning, prompting temporary closures of nearby roads and a major bridge out of caution.
The Secret Service confirmed that officers responded to the 3300 block of M Street in Northwest D.C. after receiving the report. In a statement provided to NewsNation, the agency said it closed the street and the Francis Scott Key Bridge “out of an abundance of caution.”
The Metropolitan Police Department said its officers arrived at the scene at 8:42 a.m. to assist the Secret Service. The department’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit was also dispatched, and the investigation is ongoing.
The incident comes amid heightened security concerns for diplomatic missions in the capital. Earlier this year, suspicious mailings targeted the offices of more than 20 lawmakers, prompting a review of security protocols. The Ukrainian Embassy has been a focal point of diplomatic activity since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and security there remains tight.
The closures caused traffic disruptions in the Georgetown area and on the Key Bridge, which connects D.C. to Rosslyn, Virginia. Commuters were advised to seek alternate routes while law enforcement assessed the situation.
The Secret Service did not immediately release details about the nature of the package or whether any evacuation was ordered. The agency’s statement emphasized that the closures were precautionary.
This is a developing story, and authorities have not yet confirmed when the roads will reopen. The investigation continues.
