The bomb squad has safely detonated the device after two hours of investigations.

Officers surrounded the object with sandbags, loaned from Wangaratta Council, before destroying what appeared to be the pipe bomb.

12.37pm

Officers from the bomb squad have arrived at the Chronicle to inspect the device.

They have surrounded it with heavy sandbags for security and will attempt to work out what is inside.

10.35am

THE device, designed to appear like a pipe bomb, was thrown through the window into the journalists' area between 4.45am and 6am. 

It was discovered by a cleaner. 

Wangaratta Detective Senior Constable Paul Campbell said police moved the device out of he building to the rear car park.

"There appears to be a device with some sort of wires that have come out of it, fashioned to look like what we might describe as a pipe bomb," he said.

"We certainly don't seem to have anyone with particular issues with the Chronicle ... it might be just a prank."

Crime scene police inspected the building for other dangerous items before allowing staff to return inside at about 9.30am.

"This morning we've canvassed the area and spoken to a number of local businesses and residents," Detective Campbell said.

"It's quite a busy time of the morning, there's a lot of busy workers heading off to work."

He asked anyone who saw anyone around the corner of Rowan and Baker streets to contact police.

9.14am

DETECTIVES have called in the bomb squad after a suspicious device was found at the Wangaratta Chronicle building this morning. 

It’s believed the device, which was thrown through a window, was found when a staff member arrived for work. 

Police are unsure what the device is but have called in the bomb squad from Melbourne to examine it. 

The specialist unit it expected to take several hours to arrive. 

Police tape has been set up outside the building. 

The newspaper has previously been targeted.