UPDATE: 2:30 P.M.:

The San Francisco Police Department has rendered the area near the Hall of Justice safe after investigating a suspicious vehicle near the building.

UPDATE: 1:30 P.M.

Police sent a bomb squad to investigate a suspicious vehicle near the Hall of Justice late Thursday morning, crippling the criminal court system and traffic in the area into the afternoon.

San Francisco Police Department spokesperson Giselle Talkoff told reporters that people inside the Hall of Justice — home to the offices of the District Attorney, Public Defender and Medical Examiner, among others — were told to shelter in place.

The California Highway Patrol tweeted that the Interstate 80 was closed in both directions in the area of Eighth and Bryant streets in response to the police activity.

Footage from news helicopters showed an SFPD bomb squad robot investigating a white sedan around 1 p.m.

An employee with Autoreturn, a towing company across from the Hall of Justice, told the San Francisco Examiner that a suspicious note was left on a vehicle in the lot. The employee asked not to be named.

Bryant Street was closed to traffic between Sixth and Eighth streets into the early afternoon.

Talkoff said the investigation is ongoing.

 

#SFPD Investigating a Suspicious Incident @ 7th & Bryant. Avoid the Area, 7th St. Exit & Street Closures #Traffic #SF #SOMA @CHP_GoldenGate

— San Francisco Police (@SFPD) October 20, 2016

Avoid the area of 7th and Bryant due to SFPD activity

— San Francisco DEM (@SF_emergency) October 20, 2016