World Bank shut after bomb call

New Delhi: The World Bank's Washington buildings, including its headquarters, were shut on Friday following a bomb threat.

The Bank sources say the bomb threat was made on telephone. All employees have been asked to stay home. The FBI said it was investigating the threat and sniffer dogs had swept its buildings but not found any explosives.

The World Bank headquarters is located about a block from White House and employs about 8,000 people in at least seven buildings in downtown Washington.

The bank said on Thursday the threat was phoned in, but gave no details

Weierman said the FBI was leading the investigation with the help of the Secret Service and local police.

"We had canine bomb dogs sweep the building last evening and no devices were found. The investigation is continuing," Weierman was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The World Bank, which fights global poverty, is a few minutes' walk from the White House and across the street from the International Monetary Fund.