University: Search continues for possible explosives on UL campus – photos, videos, update included

The Daily Advertiser, July 16, 2014

Update – State police suspecious device was not a bomb.  See video.
State Police, the FBI, and UL officials give an update on the bomb threat situation on campus. Megan Wyatt, The Advertiser

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Update: Traffic has been restored on the UL campus and Bourgeois Hall will be open beginning at 4 p.m. after a barely coherent, profane bomb threat called in to a local TV station early Wednesday led to the evacuation of most of the campus.

Nearly all of the campus was evacuated and teams with bomb-sniffing dogs went building by building through the campus for most of Wednesday.

For most of the day, news reports quoted police as saying two objects identified only as "suspicious devices" had been found in a garbage can at Girard Park and on Harding Street near the campus.

But by mid-afternoon, police were saying that only one suspicious device – the one at Girard Park – had been found. And state police said it was only a package made up to look like a bomb.

There was no immediate word from authorities about who might have called in the bomb threat or why. The FBI has announced two phone numbers. 1-800-CALL FBI has been established for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the threat. Also, tips can be called into the local Crime Stoppers at 337-232-TIPS.

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The search for possible explosive devices continued at UL early this afternoon, after a bomb threat called in to a local TV station and the subsequent discovery of two objects described as "suspicious devices" led to a widespread evacuation.

Campus buildings are being searched from Girard Park to the LITE Center. At noon, state police spokesman Brooks David said nine teams were on campus and had searched 20 buildings.

By noon, the evacuation area had been expanded to include the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce offices and Caldwell Banker on St. Mary.

The entire UL campus is undergoing a sweep using bomb-detecting dogs, Registrar Chip Jackson said.

VIDEO: "I was fearing for people’s lives"

VIDEO:

Louisiana State Police update bomb threat situation at UL

PHOTOS: Bomb threat at UL, roads closed around campus

FOLLOW LIVE: Get updates from UL’s campus

The university’s dog, Pepper, and those from other local law enforcement are being used to sweep all buildings on campus including the Cajundome and the University Research Park.

The campus was largely evacuated after the threat was called in to KATC at 5:31 a.m. About 5,500 students attend classes at UL.

Many were taken to sites off campus. At about noon, 100 of the students were at Lafayette City Hall, watching the movie "Frozen."

The university’s emergency alert system was triggered at 7 a.m.

Classes regularly scheduled for today and tonight have been canceled.

Athletic Network Footnote:

Classes and events have been canceled at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for the remainder of Wednesday, July 16.  Students who live in on-campus housing will be notified when they are allowed to return. Essential employees, including those who support students in residence halls, will need to stay in touch with their supervisors for instructions. University classes and operations are expected to resume tomorrow, July 17.