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AFL House In Melbourne Evacuated Following 'Hoax' Threat

On Wednesday, the AFL copped flak online for changing the building's logo to 'Yes'.
Police were shepherding people away from AFL House in Melbourne on Thursday afternoon.
Fairfax Media
Police were shepherding people away from AFL House in Melbourne on Thursday afternoon.

Police have given the all-clear to AFL House in the Melbourne suburb of Docklands, after the building was evacuated following a telephone threat.

Around 150 staff were evacuated from the AFL headquarters at around 12pm on Thursday, while police conducted safety checks of the building.

The incident comes a day after the AFL headquarters changed its logo to 'Yes' in support of marriage equality.

A police spokesperson told HuffPost Australia the building was evacuated as a "precaution".

Trams were diverted from the area at the request of emergency services.

UPDATE: Route 70/75 trams in both directions are still diverting via Spencer St & La Trobe St due a @VictoriaPolice operation in Docklands.

— Yarra Trams (@yarratrams) September 21, 2017

AFL spokesperson Patrick Keane said the league had received a threatening phone call on Thursday morning and all staff were evacuated, but it had since been determined to be a "hoax".

Keane told The Age the caller gave no reason for the threat.

On Wednesday, the AFL had changed the building's logo to 'Yes' in support of marriage equality.

"The AFL is committed to equality and diversity, and we support the rights of all Australians to live, work and play free from discrimination," the league said of its logo swap in a statement on social media.

New look at @AFL house this morning. #VoteYes#loveislovepic.twitter.com/ihwBn9xW7T

— Nat Edwards (@Nat_Edwards) September 20, 2017

The logo was taken down on Thursday morning.

Despite some criticism the league received -- including from former Carlton president John Elliot -- over their public stance on same-sex marriage, the AFL maintains the sign was only intended to remain in place for one day.

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