Boston federal courthouse evacuation lifted

Amid confusion over whether a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings was in custody, the federal courthouse where any suspect would be arraigned was briefly evacuated Wednesday afternoon.

Court officials evacuated hundreds, advising that there had been a bomb threat. Media members were among those evacuated. The evacuation was lifted after about an hour.

A part of Brigham and Women's Hospital was also evacuated about 3 p.m. because of an unattended vehicle outside, a hospital official said. That evacuation also has since been lifted.

Department of Homeland Security personnel initially had responded to the courthouse, and they ushered evacuees away from the building.

Any suspect in the bombing likely would be arraigned on the seventh floor of the courthouse.

Federal officials are denying that a suspect is in custody in the Boston Marathon bombings.

A law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press on Wednesday a suspect was in custody. But the FBI and the U.S. attorney's office in Boston dispute that.