TORONTO (CP) - A false bomb scare sent police and bomb-sniffing dogs into subway stations across Toronto on Thursday, exactly one week after failed bombings in London's underground train network. Police found nothing suspicious after shutting down parts of two subway lines for about an hour just after 10 a.m., sending about 60,000 commuters onto the streets and crowded shuttle buses.

Officers and transit officials scoured 18 stations that run through the city's core and deemed them safe, said Marilyn Bolton of the Toronto Transit Commission.

Police immediately characterized the threat as a copycat and feared more would emerge.

"These types of calls obviously increase when things around the world happen," said Const. Wendy Drummond.

"We have a fear that we're going to get copycats and this is going to continue tying up resources and whatnot that might be better utilized elsewhere."

Drummond said police received a phone call alerting them to the threat, but would not elaborate on the nature of the call.

The call was made to a local media outlet warning that a device would be detonated on the Yonge Street line at 10:30 a.m.

Police officials said they routinely investigate any and all threats.

"The Toronto Police Service believes that it's better to err on the side of caution and we take all these calls very seriously," said Const. Kristine Bacharach.