Fort Lauderdale, Florida– The FBI said Wednesday that a suspicious package was found outside the gate in MacDill Air Force The base in Tampa earlier this week contained “potentially active materials.”
Material analysis has not been completed, and FBI Tampa This came in a statement published on social media on Wednesday afternoon. The FBI said the investigation is ongoing and did not provide further details.
Active materials store a large amount of chemical energy, and can include explosives, fuel, or propellants. The FBI did not respond to an email seeking clarification about what type of substance was in the package found Monday outside the MacDill Air Force Base Visitor Center.
Earlier Wednesday, the base issued a shelter-in-place order after receiving a threat.
“We take all threats seriously and take appropriate measures to prioritize the safety and security of our facilities,” MacDill officials said in a statement posted on social media. “As a political matter, we will not disclose details about the security measures that have been implemented.”
The order was lifted about two hours later, but the base remains on high alert, officials said.
On Tuesday, the base began operating under Force Protection Charlie, which is referred to as “FPCON CHARLIE.” This is the second highest military security level, and allows officials to “proactively implement deliberate security measures.”
All personnel at the base “must remain vigilant, follow the directions of security forces, and report any suspicious activity immediately,” the warning said.
the US Central Commandor CENTCOM, headquartered in MacDill, is responsible for U.S. military operations in the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia.
MacDill is one of the US bases that has been on high alert since the start of the war in Iran.
Last week, everything Six crew members of the KC-135 refueling aircraft died In a crash while supporting operations against Iran. Three of the crew members were attached to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill, officials said.