SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — Two Southern Illinois courthouses have been evacuated Wednesday morning due to bomb threats phoned in to 911 centers.

According to the West Frankfort Police Department, they received a 911 call around 8:45 a.m. Wednesday claiming there was an “Improvised Explosive Device on the second floor of the Courthouse.”

West Frankfort PD contacted the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office as there was concern the call was referring to the Williamson County Courthouse.

As part of the Emergency Plan, the Courthouse was evacuated and closed until it could be thoroughly searched and nearby streets were closed

Currently, the tentative plan is to re-open the Courthouse at 1:15 PM.

Residents are asked to avoid the area immediately around the Courthouse.

Also Wednesday morning, 911 in Franklin County received a bomb threat. The Franklin County Courthouse and Campbell Building were then evacuated as a safety precaution.

Franklin County Sheriff Don Jones is requesting the public to avoid the Franklin County Courthouse and Public Square until further notice.

Sheriff Jones is on scene and coordinating with officials from Benton/West City Police, Benton Fire, and Franklin County Emergency Management Agency. Additional updates will be provided as available.

The Franklin County Emergency Management Agency is coordinating public information and deploying the agency’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to assist in the investigation of the incident.