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A busy thoroughfare in downtown Berkeley has been shut down and some businesses evacuated this afternoon as a bomb squad investigates a suspicious package, a police spokeswoman said. 

The package was discovered shortly before noon on the east side of Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley police Officer Jennifer Coats said. 

Shattuck Avenue has been shut down between Bancroft and Durant avenues, and some buildings on the east side of the street have been evacuated, she said.  

Occupants of other homes and businesses in the area have been told to shelter in place.  

The Police Department's bomb squad has been called in.  

"They've responded and are on scene preparing to investigate," Coats said at about 2:30 p.m.  

She said she did not yet know when the street would be reopened.