JUST IN: Downtown streets closed amid ‘red mercury’ investigation
Raisa Habersham
AJC.com
Officials are investigating in downtown Atlanta after reports that a man claiming to have red mercury from Africa walked into the Region 2 location of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, police said.
“We received a call regarding a male coming into the facility carrying red mercury from Africa,” Atlanta police Officer Stephanie Brown said. “We are still gathering details on the call.”
These streets downtown are closed to traffic
Peachtree St. at John Portman
Peachtree Center @ Andrew Young
Courtland St @ Baker St— Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) March 30, 2017
Red mercury is reportedly a substance used to create nuclear bombs, but its existence has not been documented.
Brown said Homeland Security is en route to the location.
Parts of Peachtree Street, Peachtree Center Avenue and Courtland Street have been closed and officers are redirecting traffic.
A hazmat team, bomb squad and fire trucks were seen near the investigation.
No other details were released.