BEIRUT: Security forces evacuated and searched a shopping center in the Beirut neighborhood of Verdun Wednesday afternoon after shop workers found a letter alleging a bomb had been planted in the center, but did not find any traces of explosives.

The letter was found at one of Verdun 732’s clothing shops and said that an explosive device would be detonated there between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Security forces and sniffer dogs searched the shopping center, which is located in a highly populated and commercial area, and found no explosives.

The search ended at 3:45 p.m. Roads leading to the center were blocked throughout the search operations causing heavy traffic congestion in the Verdun.