Staff Photo by Margaret Fenton
All Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee office buildings in Chattanooga were evacuated around 3 p.m. Friday, officials said. Police said a bomb threat was made to the company but did not specify a location. The parking structure pictured is at 6th and Broad streets.

Emergency workers evacuated all BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee buildings in Chattanooga this afternoon, police officials said.

Sgt. Phil Headden with the Chattanooga Police Department said the buildings were evacuated after a bomb threat was made to the company that did not specify a location.

Fire, EMS and police personnel began the evacuations around 3 p.m. Chattanooga police and agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were searching one BlueCross building at Eastgate Town Center around 4 p.m. today, while others remained guarded by emergency workers.

Firefighters had a portion of M.L. King Boulevard blocked off near the company’s mammoth Cameron Hill construction site. That project has been the scene of two reports of nooses, which triggered an investigation by the FBI into a possible hate crime.

Carter Street, which fronts BlueCross’ downtown headquarters, also remained closed late this afternoon.

For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.