WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - The Pentagon City Shopping Plaza and the Pentagon City Mall near the headquarters of the US Department of Defence in Arlington, Virginia, were evacuated on Friday and roads surrounding the area were closed after an anonymous bomb threat was made, the Arlington County Police Department said.

The entrance to the Metrorail station near the shopping centres was closed due to police activity as well, according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

The local Fox News affiliate reported bomb-sniffing dogs were searching the area.

The retail area is near the Pentagon.