World Bank’s headquarters in Washington was evacuated for Tuesday and all the employees were told to stay at home so the security staff could investigate the bomb threat made by telephone.

The World Bank is currently collaborating with law enforcement officials to find out whether the threat that came via telephone was real or just a farce.

"As a precautionary measure, bank group management has decided to close all World Bank group leased and owned buildings in Washington on Friday," the bank’s statement said.

The World Bank, an internationally supported institution that provides loans to developing countries for development programs with the stated goal of reducing poverty,
Is very close to the White House (about a block away) and has approximately 8000 employees in at least seven buildings in downtown Washington.

The International Monetary Fund, which works very close with the World Bank and has its offices next to it, was also on high alert due to the telephone bomb threat, but said it will be open on Friday. IMF told its employees they do not have to come in.

"A liberal leave policy'' has been put in place for workers who prefer not to come to the building today, IMF spokesman Bill Murray said.

A similar case occurred in 2004, when security staff was beefed up around both institutions after the U.S. intelligence warned about potential threats to attack the New York Stock Exchange, the World Bank and IMF.

The terrorism threat level in the U.S. is now “elevated,'' which is two levels below the highest rating of ``severe,'', but when it comes to domestic and international flights the threat level is ``high'', according to the Department of Homeland Security