Bomb squad says suspicious package found at shopping plaza near UTEP wasn’t explosive

EL PASO, Texas -- The El Paso police bomb squad examined a suspicious package found at a west El Paso shopping plaza on Sunday afternoon before determining that it wasn't an explosive device.

The item was discovered in the 2400 block of N. Mesa at an Auto Zone store.

Police reported calling out the bomb squad about 4:30 p.m.; It was around 6:30 p.m. that authorities said they determined the package didn't contain any explosives.

Access to the shopping plaza parking lot, which sits near the UTEP campus, was shut off by police during the couple hours that it took to determine the item was safe and posed no public threat.

Police did not indicate what the package actually contained.