Kennedy lanes reopen as package still investigated

Police closed the Kennedy Expressway around Addison Monday night for about two hours in both directions after a suspicious package was found at an el stop.

Chicago Police officers were alerted of an unattended black briefcase that was left on the platform of the Addison Street el stop on the CTA's Blue Line at approximately 6 p.m., Chicago Police said late Monday.

Bomb and arson units responded to the station, and deemed the suspicious briefcase as “not bona fide,” according to a Chicago Police statement.

The expressway was completely shut down from Irving Park inbound and outbound from Belmont while police responded to the call, but state police announced the reopening of the lanes at 8:10 p.m.

Police were still investigating the incident as of 11:30 Monday night, but moved the focus from the briefcase to a vehicle in an area nearby the station, said a spokesman for the Chicago Police.

The surrounding areas were still being searched late Monday with the help of a canine unit, police said.

Police would not comment on the details of the vehicle that was being focused on.