UPDATE: Newspaper, duct tape make up suspicious package in Columbia

UPDATE 3:23 P.M.: Package was duct taped to a pillar near the office. A less-lethal shotgun that shoots beanbag like material was used to attempt to deploy the package, and nothing happened. Officers also tried water saturation, and the package did not deploy either.

Inside of the package, several newspapers were found wrapped together with duct tape, and a fuse sticking from it.

Police were called out the the Probation and Parole office on Providence Road around 12:50 p.m., department spokeswoman Bryana Larimer said. Employees at the office reported seeing the package taped to one of the business plaza’s pillars outside their office.

After clearing some of the businesses nearby and closing nearby roads, officers fired a bean bag at the suspicious package. When it had no reaction, officers suspected it was not a dangerous device, and sprayed it with water, Larmier said.

The entire incident lasted less than two hours, and roads were re-opened before 2 p.m.

ORIGINAL STORY: ABC 17 News crews are on scene at an incident at 1903 Providence Road.

From what our crews are seeing, there was a suspicious package set near the building of the Probation and Parole office.

CPD and multiple other agencies are on scene.

We will update this story as we learn more.