City Hall Campus Closed After Suspected Explosive Found

The Kent City Hall campus was temporarily closed on Monday after a suspected military-grade undetonated explosive was brought onto the property, according to the Kent Police Department. Officials issued the initial alert around 1:36 p.m., prompting the closure of City Hall, the Centennial Building, and the police station located at 220 Fourth Avenue South. West Gowe Street between Fourth Avenue South and Second Avenue South was also closed during the response. Information shared by police indicated that a bomb squad was dispatched to the scene to evaluate the device.

According to an updated statement reported by iLoveKent, the device was safely removed later that afternoon, and officials stated the City Hall campus would reopen shortly. The police department also noted the safe removal on its public social media channels.

FOX 13 Seattle similarly reported that authorities had evacuated multiple buildings as a precaution and confirmed that the device was secured without incident. Their coverage, citing information from the Kent Police Department, emphasized that officers and the bomb squad continued to evaluate the area following removal of the suspected explosive. That report can be found at FOX 13 Seattle.

Why This Matters

The incident temporarily shut down core civic services in Kent, a city whose ongoing plans for new municipal and law enforcement facilities reflect long-term efforts to improve public safety infrastructure. While Monday’s event concluded without injuries or reported damage, it underscores the operational vulnerabilities public campuses face and the rapid response capabilities relied upon to mitigate potential threats.

As of the latest available statements, police have not released additional details about the origin of the device or the circumstances under which it was brought to the campus. Authorities continue to investigate.

Sources