Residents were told to stay inside while police investigated a security alert near Labour's Brighton conference.
Police swooped into Queen Square, Brighton, after a suitcase was spotted abandoned in the street.
Residents were told to remain inside at 6.30pm on Monday while officers checked the case.
Adrian Brandish, 27, who lives in the square, said: "The whole area was cordoned off and residents were told to move to the back of their buildings by police.
"There was a lot of shouting and police activity."
A Sussex police spokeswoman said: "There was a security alert but it was quickly established there was no danger and the suitcase was reunited with its owner."
September 28 2005
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