A bomb threat at the Washington County Circuit Courthouse in Hillsboro prompted the evacuation of staff and members of the public on Thursday morning before law enforcement determined no explosive devices were present.

Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to the threat shortly after 9 a.m. and immediately evacuated the courthouse and surrounding buildings as a precautionary measure.

Local and federal agencies, including the Portland Metro Explosives Disposal Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, joined the search operation.

Officers conducted a comprehensive room-by-room sweep of the courthouse and adjacent structures, aided by trained explosive detection teams, but uncovered no suspicious devices or materials.

Following the search, authorities stated that the call prompting the threat appeared to be a hoax and that the building was safe to re-enter.

Court proceedings that were disrupted earlier in the day were rescheduled, and hearings slated for after 1 p.m. resumed as normal.

Investigators continue to pursue leads into the origin of the threat, and officials have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact Washington County non-emergency dispatch, citing the case number associated with the investigation.

Emergency responders praised the orderly evacuation and collaborative search effort, which they said demonstrated effective coordination among local and federal partners in ensuring public safety during potential threats.