No bombs found following reported threat at New Lenox hospital

Police found no explosives or suspicious items after a bomb threat was made against Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.

The bomb threat was reported on Tuesday night at 10:22 p.m., which led to the lockdown and search of the hospital, according to a statement on Wednesday from the New Lenox Police Department.

A male caller claimed he placed 12 bombs throughout the hospital campus and they would detonate within 20 minutes, police said.

“In a second call a short time later, the caller indicated he would arrive on scene with a rifle after the bombs went off,” police said.

Silver Cross Hospital immediately responded to that bomb threat by activating its incident command emergency preparedness protocol, Silver Cross spokesperson Debra Robbins said in a written statement.

The hospital secured its campus as multiple law enforcement agencies and resources responded, Robbins said.

Silver Cross also obtained permission from the Illinois Department of Public Health to go on bypass while “taking every measure to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors and staff,” Robbins said.

Bypass is a temporary status that a health care facility can put in place informing local emergency medical services that it cannot accept new patients

Bomb sniffing dogs, an emergency crew and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies in Will and Cook counties were immediately called to the scene, police said.

“A coordinated search of the hospital by the responding officers, Silver Cross security, and the bomb detecting dogs was conducted of the campus. No explosives or suspicious items were located,” police said.

An “all-clear” to the bomb threat was called at 1:35 a.m. Wednesday, Robbins said. The lockdown was then lifted and all responding personnel left the scene, police said.

“We are incredibly grateful to local law enforcement and fire protection agencies for their efforts and to our entire hospital staff who remained calm and continued to care for our patients throughout,” Robbins said.

The bomb threat investigation remains open and ongoing.