Newtown church cleared after threat

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NEWTOWN, Conn., Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Police gave the all-clear sign Sunday after searching a Newtown, Conn., church that was evacuated following an unspecified threat.

Brian Wallace, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Bridgeport, said Monsignor Robert Weiss was delivering his homily during a mass at St. Rose of Lima Church when word of a threat emptied the church about 12:40 p.m., the Hartford Courant reported.

Authorities have cleared the scene of an evacuation of St. Rose of Lima Church. The church was evacuated around 12:40 p.m. and armed police officers swarmed the area.

Armed police officers converged on the church, combing it and other buildings on the property until they were satisfied they were secure, the newspaper said.

Wallace lamented the intrusion on the worship service. "To interrupt that is a very tragic and difficult thing," he said.

St. Rose was the site of a vigil Friday night for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.