Air Force Base given 'all clear' after lockdown

Traffic backs up Wednesday, July 23, 2014, around the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, which was put on lockdown because of a "suspicious individual."
Traffic backs up Wednesday, July 23, 2014, around the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, which was put on lockdown because of a "suspicious individual."

Update:

The four-hour lockdown at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville has been lifted.

A reporter on the scene said an official gave an "all clear" announcement shortly after 4 p.m. over the speaker system on the base. Cars that had been waiting to enter and leave the base were seen passing through the front gate, the reporter said.

"We responded with the necessary caution to secure our Airmen, their families and Air Force resources" Col. Patrick Rhatigan, 19th Airlift Wing commander, said in a statement. "After a thorough search of the base, we the found the report no longer credible. I am pleased with the response of our Security Forces and appreciate the support of the Jacksonville Police Department and other federal law enforcement officials. We apologize for the inconvenience this has caused, but security and safety is our top priority."

Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more details.

Earlier:

Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville was locked down because of "a suspicious individual."

Officials there released little information about what prompted the lockdown, which started at 11:45 a.m. Initially, no one was being allowed on or off the base and people on the base were locked in buildings, a spokesman said.

A reporter on the scene said some vehicles were allowed to leave the base around 2:30 p.m.

Three C-130 planes were diverted to the Little Rock National Airport between between 12:48 and 1:13 p.m., airport spokesman Shane Carter said. He said the planes will remain there and more could land while the lockdown is in effect.

A release from the base said emergency personnel were responding and that the lockdown was "in the interest of protecting all base members and resources from a suspicious individual."

Officials said no further information could be released.

The base had been scheduled to undergo emergency response exercise Tuesday and Wednesday. A base spokesman said officials had been in training mode when a "real world" situation prompted the lockdown.

Jacksonville Police Department spokesman April Kiser referred questions to base officials, adding that the department had been notified and was prepared to provide assistance if needed.

Information for this story was contributed by Gavin Lesnick and Lisa Burnett of Arkansas Online.

Upcoming Events