Facebook Headquarters Were Locked Down While Cops Investigated Threat
Facebook's 57-acre campus at 1 Hacker Way was temporarily sealed off Tuesday night while police investigated a threat that was later declared unsubstantiated and "non-credible." Re/Code called it the "first significant scare" for the $179 billion social network.
San Francisco police sent a report of a threat shortly after 7 p.m. Pacific. In a prepared statement, Menlo Park police commander Dave Bertini said that the campus was declared safe and employees were permitted to leave around 8.30 p.m.
Menlo Park officers closed off the entrance with tape while Facebook employees were asked to stay, reports San Jose Mercury News:
"At this point, we're not even sure the call was meant to be for the Menlo Park campus," Bertini said.
Officers did not find anything at the campus, and Facebook eventually shuttled its employees home.
Bertini did not offer any more details on the nature of the "threat," but Re/Code pointed to escalating backlash against gentrification. Last week, Menlo Park's City Council voted unanimously in favor of letting Facebook privately fund its own full-time cop. Local police Chief Robert Jonsen called the agreement a"benchmark in private-public partnerships."
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[Image via Associated Press]