Suspicious Packages, Car Explosion Force Evacuations At Raleigh Office Complex

According to Capt. Don Weingarten of the Raleigh Police Department,emergency crews were first called to the parking deck after a car exploded on the second level of the multi-level parking deck around 12:30 p.m. at The Forum office complex, located at 8500 Six Forks Road near Strickland Road.

There are two such parking decks at the complex. The explosion happened at the parking deck closest to Six Forks Road.

Mark Fisher, 46, of Stedman, was injured after falling to the ground from the second level of the parking deck. He is listed in fair condition at WakeMed.

Tenants of The Forum office complex, Misys Healthcare and other nearby buildings were evacuated because of a suspicious bag that was found in the parking deck. The Bright Horizons Day Care, which is also nearby, was not evacuated, but some parents did come to get their children.

The Raleigh Police Department's bomb squad was called to investigate the contents of the suspicious black bag, which was found on the first level of the deck. After the bomb squad was called in, authorities discovered several other suspicious bags on the first floor. They later determined that the packages posed no threat to anyone.

Police said that it is routine to evacuate everything within 1,000 feet of the area. In this case, the evacuation included three office buildings.

Authorities allowed workers to retrieve their vehicles from the deck around 4:30 p.m.

Fisher does not have a prior criminal record. Police said they are looking into the possibility that Fisher was dating an employee who worked at the office complex.