LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM) — According to the Cumberland County Department of Public Safety, the Capital City Mall in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County was evacuated during the morning of Monday, Sept. 18.

A Facebook post states that the mall was evacuated due to a police incident. The mall reopened at 3 p.m. Monday afternoon.

According to David Holl who is the Public Safety Director for Lower Allen Township on Monday morning, an email was sent which said that multiple bombs were placed throughout the mall. This was when the mall was evacuated and fire and police units were called in.

Holl says that bomb-sniffing dogs will be going through the mall and that it will remain closed until the search is complete.

Holl states that fire police were keeping people away from the area. Officials believe this is part of a nationwide string of ‘swatting incidents’, which involve phony reports of emergency situations that force police to respond.

Cumberland County District Attorney Seán McCormack tells abc27 that the charge for whomever did this if they’re caught, would be threatening to use a weapon of mass destruction. Because the threat resulted in an evacuation, it would be a third-degree felony punishable by up to 7 years in jail.

Capital City Mall has provided the following statement regarding the incident:

“Today, September 18 at approximately 10:36 AM EST, Capital City Mall received a threat via the website. Per protocol, mall management contacted Lower Allen Township. The Police Department advised us to evacuate the property as soon as possible. As of 11:15 AM, the mall is secure, and the Police Department units are onsite investigating.

As the safety of the tenants and guests are of utmost concern, we are following the lead of the Police Department while they conduct their investigation and will notify tenants, employees, and guests when the premises are cleared for re-entry. We thank everyone for their patience and the Police Department for their prompt response in this matter.”

-Capital City Mall Management