MacDill Air Force Base hotel resumes normal operations after threat prompted evacuation

MacDill Inn evacuated after threat on Air Force base

Officials at MacDill Air Force Base say a threat prompted the precautionary evacuation of MacDill Inn, a hotel on base in Tampa. FOX 13's Blake DeVine reports.

TAMPA, Fla. - The MacDill Inn, a hotel on MacDill Air Force Base, resumed normal operations after being evacuated due to a threat on Thursday night. 

What we know:

According to a statement released by the base, the MacDill Inn was evacuated "out of an abundance of caution" after the threat was reported.

"We take all threats seriously and are taking appropriate measures to prioritize the safety and security of our installation," MacDill Air Force Base officials said in the statement. 

Just last month, a brother and sister were charged after an explosive device was found outside the visitor center area of MacDill Air Force Base. The brother, Alen Zheng, remains at large after fleeing to China.

What they're saying:

"It's not uncommon once you have a threat at a location to have follow-on threats, copycat threats. People see what the reaction is, the coverage, and they want a piece of the action. So, sometimes they make these threats that are problematic, can be dangerous," Rich Kolko, retired U.S. Navy commander and retired FBI special agent, said, in response to why there have been three threats over the last four weeks at MacDill Air Force Base.

What we don't know:

Base officials did not provide details about the nature of the threat or the specific security measures being implemented, due to their policy.