GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – UPDATE, 1:15 p.m.: A spokesman for Alachua County says the county administration is back open. Normal operations have resumed and it’s safe for the public to conduct business at the county building.

UPDATE, 1:00 p.m.: The Alachua County administration building is still evacuated. The county building is across the street from Gainesville’s city hall and is being swept as a precaution.

The Alachua County administration building is just across the street from Gainesville City Hall. Courtesy: Ryann Dickerson/352today
Alachua County employees waited outside in the brisk December air until the county administration building was reopened. Courtesy: Ryann Dickerson/352today
The Alachua County administration building was also evacuated as a precaution. Courtesy: Ryann Dickerson/352today

UPDATE, 12:45 p.m.: The city of Gainesville’s public information officer Rossana Passaniti says city hall has been reopened following a sweep by Gainesville police. Passaniti says the building is back open for the public to conduct business with the city.

UPDATE, 12:30 p.m.: Gainesville Police public information officer (PIO) Brandon Hatzel says the concern started from a social media post. Hatzel tells 352today that the decision to evacuate city hall was a precaution. He says they’re working with the FBI to investigate the threat.

UPDATE, 12:12 p.m.: The impact of the ‘unspecified threat’ to the city of Gainesville has spread. Alachua County’s administration building has also been evacuated. County spokesman Mark Sexton says “out of an abundance of caution, we are evacuating the building and bringing dogs in to sniff for bombs.”

UPDATE, Noon: 352today’s Ryann Dickerson is on the scene at city hall and reports seeing a law enforcement K-9 unit.

 

Law enforcement K-9 units were used to sweep both Gainesville city hall and the Alachua County administration building following a threat posted on social media. The buildings were evacuated for a little more than two hours. Courtesy: Ryann Dickerson/352today
The scene outside Gainesville’s City Hall at noon as police sweep the building. Courtesy: Ryann Dickerson/352today
Law enforcement K-9 units were used to sweep both Gainesville city hall and the Alachua County administration building following a threat posted on social media. The buildings were evacuated for a little more than two hours. Courtesy: Ryann Dickerson/352today
Courtesy: Ryann Dickerson/352today

PREVIOUSLY: The Gainesville City Hall complex is currently closed to due to an “unspecified threat.”

The city of Gainesville posted on Facebook and on X (formerly known as Twitter) that the city hall and the old library building will be closed until 1 p.m. today, Tuesday, Dec. 19

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward tells 352today that the Gainesville Police Department asked the city to clear the buildings while police sweep the facilities to ensure there is no threat to public safety.

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All services that take place at city hall are currently not available to the public. “I expect we’ll reopen early afternoon,” Mayor Ward said.

This is a developing story. Check back frequently for updates.