Phony Bomb Threat Clears U.S. Consulate

The U.S. Consulate in Russia’s northern port of St. Petersburg was evacuated after receiving warnings that a bomb was timed to detonate during a nationwide moment of silence in honor of the victims of Tuesday’s attacks.

All workers were ordered out, and Russian police using dogs searched the building after the consulate received an anonymous call at 10 a.m. No bomb detonated at noon--the time threatened--and authorities said the telephone call appeared to be a hoax.

Across Russia, national flags were lowered to half-staff under a decree from President Vladimir V. Putin. Television and radio stations halted their broadcasts, and the Cabinet interrupted its weekly meeting for a minute.