LONG BEACH, Calif. —  A hazardous materials team was called to the Port of Long Beach in California when a cargo container was found Wednesday spray-painted with the words "Anthrax a gift from Osama," but nothing was found in the container.

A search of the container Wednesday was done out of an "abundance of caution," but the box was empty when shipped and nothing was found inside Wednesday, a federal official who was monitoring the situation told FOX News.

During the scare, the Long Beach Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard and Long Beach police were keeping people away from the area as hazardous materials crews wearing protective suits and oxygen masks opened the container, Fire Department Battalion Chief Frank Hayes said.

A security guard noticed the writing on the container, which was being carried by a non-English-speaking driver who had picked it up, the Press-Telegram reported.

“This is the first one I’ve seen where it’s had a message like that,” said Vic Scallo, a longshoreman.

Authorities said there were no evacuations and terminal operations are continuing.

The Port of Long Beach is the second-busiest seaport in the United States and a leading route for trade from Asia.

Click here to read more on this story from the Press-Telegram.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.