A suspicious package containing vials that tested positive for a homemade explosive substance was discovered in the mail room of the Arizona Supreme Court on January 5, 2026, leading to the evacuation of the courthouse and several nearby state buildings in downtown Phoenix. No injuries were reported.
Discovery and Initial Response
The incident began at 8 a.m. when the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), responsible for security at the courthouse complex, was notified about a suspicious package.
The package was found to contain multiple vials, two of which tested positive for an unspecified homemade explosive substance.
Evacuation of Buildings
As a precautionary measure, the State Courts Building — which houses the Arizona Supreme Court and Division One of the state Court of Appeals — was evacuated.
Other nearby buildings on the Capitol Mall were also cleared, including the state Education Department, the state Attorney General’s Office, and the Arizona Department of Administration.
DPS spokesperson Bart Graves noted that the Supreme Court was not in session at the time of the incident.
Ongoing Investigation and Building Status
The courthouse remained closed throughout the day while security sweeps were conducted.
In the late afternoon, authorities were in the process of removing the package for further investigation and subsequent disposal.
Local news media reported that the parcel bore no return address label. Graves declined to provide details on how or when the parcel arrived or whether it contained a device capable of exploding.
