Scene cleared in Gainesville after bomb threat, hospital returns to normal

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Police investigated a bomb threat reported near Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville early Tuesday afternoon. 

What we know:

Officers with the Gainesville Police Department responded to the area surrounding Northeast Georgia Medical Center early Tuesday afternoon after receiving a report of a bomb threat via dispatch, according to Gainesville police. 

Law enforcement maintained a heavy presence in the area for a couple of hours while investigating the incident, according to the police department. Teams were deployed to sweep the area using K9's and other safety equipment. 

As a result of the threat, the hospital said all appointments at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville and Longstreet Clinic’s Gainesville location were temporarily canceled. 

A spokesperson for the hospital said that if anyone needs emergency care, they can call 911. 

Nicholas Mewborn who was inside the hospital at the time and sent photos to FOX 5 Atlanta said employees had been told to stay inside temporarily. 

At around 1:45 p.m., a FOX 5 Atlanta photojournalist on the scene said that the police were leaving the area and it did not appear they had found any credible threat.

Shortly after, the Northeast Georgia Health System confirmed that law enforcement had given an all clear and confirmed that all is safe at NGMC Gainesville, Longstreet Clinic and the surrounding area. All hospital operations are back to normal and appointments can be attended as scheduled.

What we don't know:

Authorities have not released details regarding the specific origin or nature of the threat.