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The USS Bonhomme Richard  sits moored at Fleet Activities Sasebo Japan.

The USS Bonhomme Richard sits moored at Fleet Activities Sasebo Japan. (Courtesy of U.S. Navy)

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — A lockdown at Sasebo Naval Base, Japan, has been lifted after personnel were asked to shelter in place Thursday due to an active-shooter report.

“All clear at Fleet Activities Sasebo,” said a Navy Region Japan tweet sent about 12:15 p.m. “No evidence of a shooter. No casualties. Base has returned to normal operations.”

The lockdown order came shortly after 9:30 a.m. when security forces received a report of gunshots heard inside building 141, which hosts a mine countermeasures squadron.

“The building was evacuated,” said a post on Sasebo’s official Facebook page titled “THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!”

“The area that this incident happened in is a maintenance area – not the quietest place on base,” said Darian Wilson, Navy Forces Japan’s deputy public affairs officer. “Someone thought they had heard something. Sounded like a gunshot.”

The commander locked the base down “out of an abundance of caution,” he said.

“[Security forces] went through the building room by room, floor by floor,” Wilson said. “Did not find anything.”

A “guard and protect” exercise was underway when the report came in, Cmdr. Ron Flanders of Navy Region Japan said.

news@stripes.com

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