Mount Sinai Hospital lockdown lifted after threatening phone call

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Chicago police surrounded Mount Sinai Hospital for four hours after someone phoned in a threat.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Mount Sinai Hospital went on lockdown for four hours Thursday after receiving a threatening phone call, according to police.

PHOTOS: Police on the scene during Mount Sinai Hospital lockdown

Mount Sinai received the call just before 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Police surrounded the hospital located in the 1500-block of South Fairfield Avenue carrying rifles and guns.

"Every couple feet there was one, but very, very large rifles. (Scary?) Yeah, definitely. Definitely looked like they were ready to take action if they needed to," said Brooke Ballman, patient.

Chicago police investigated and remained on the scene until around 2:30 p.m. A hospital spokesperson said everything was back to normal at 2:10 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

"We had a possible threat, and with counsel with the Chicago Police Department, we used precautions and for the protection of our patients, physicians, and visitors, we took special measures," said Diane Hunter, Mount Sinai Hospital spokeswoman.

Some patients said they were turned away from their appointments.