If you got a mysterious public safety alert on your phone, here is what's going on.

2:20 PM - The original alert I got on my phone said "Area in question is west of Cloquet and north of Big Lake. Between Mission Rd and Enger/Cary Rd", but said nothing more. Others have gotten an alert saying, "Due to potential explosive hazard that was found in area of Ditchbanks Road and Pipeline crossing law enforcement is evacuating residences within the area."

2:40 PM - I just got another alert on my phone saying that the first public safety alert was sent to Aiktin, St. Louis, and Pine counties in error. The latest alert said that it is a localized event in Carlton County only. Everyone else can disregard the message. The area affected is on the north side of Big Lake.

2:45 PM - The Cloquet Police Department says that they are aware of the alert and that the incident is outside of their jurisdiction and being covered by the Carlton County Sheriff's Office and the Fond du Lac Police Department.

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2:50 PM - The Carlton County Sheriff's Department is saying that the bomb squad was responding after a protest near the Line 3 construction site. The Carlton County Sheriff's Department responded to the protest that was blocking Ditchbank Road, while protestors were leaving 911 got a call about people throwing suspicious packages out. The Perch Lake Town Hall is being used as a shelter for anyone evacuated from the area. The Cloquet Area Fire District, the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the MN Department of Natural Resources is also assisting with the incident

5:30 PM - The Carlton County Sheriff's Department is telling residents it is safe to return to their homes.

This is a breaking story, updates will be provided here when they become available. Stay safe.

 

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