UPDATE - Suspicious item near Ukrainian Embassy in Washington poses 'no threat,' mission says

ADDS STATEMENT BY UKRAINE'S EMBASSY IN DC; CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - A suspicious object discovered near the entrance to the Consular Section of the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington, DC, posed "no threat," US law enforcement determined after an inspection, the embassy said on Friday.

The discovery prompted a temporary evacuation of the embassy premises and the closure of the surrounding area as authorities conducted security checks, the embassy said in a statement.

Earlier on Friday, the US Secret Service said it responded to a report of a "suspicious item" near the Ukrainian Embassy at approximately 8,40 am local time, prompting road closures and the closure of the Key Bridge as authorities investigated.

To ensure the safety of embassy staff and visitors, officials decided to "temporarily" evacuate the premises and cordon off the area, the mission said.

US law enforcement officers and a bomb squad were called to the scene to examine the object, the statement said, adding it was working with the American side to investigate the circumstances of the incident.

"Following an inspection, U.S. law enforcement reported that the object discovered near the Embassy poses no threat; the area around the diplomatic mission has been reopened," it said.

The embassy added that consular services would resume shortly.

Diyar Güldoğan