UConn Bomb Threat Ends With No Harm Done and Campus Declared Safe, Tasker Building 'Under Investigation'
ByThe University of Connecticut has evacuated the Tasker Building and all surrounding areas after receiving a bomb threat.
The school alerted its campus and the public around 9:30 a.m. via Twitter reporting a bomb threat aimed at Tasker, otherwise known as the Admissions Building.
ALERT, STORRS CAMPUS: There has been bomb threat at the Tasker Building (aka Admissions building). More info: https://t.co/phy5w9PtMd
— UConn (@UConn) April 3, 2014
The campus has since been placed under a shelter in place order, meaning students faculty and anyone else on campus must remain indoors wherever they can do so safely. The school has released a new Twitter update approximately every 20 to 30 minutes.
ALERT, STORRS CAMPUS: If in or near Tasker Bldg (aka Admissions), evacuate now. Other locations: shelter in place. https://t.co/phy5w9PtMd — UConn (@UConn) April 3, 2014
The school reported at 11 a.m. they expect classes after 12:30 to resume as planned.
Storrs Campus: We expect classes beginning at 12:30 pm and later will resume as scheduled. Update to confirm will be provided at 11:30 am.
— UConn (@UConn) April 3, 2014
Stephanie Reitz, a UConn spokeswoman, told Reuters the school is taking necessary precautions to ensure the campus' safety.
"We do have bomb-sniffing dogs on site," Reitz said in a report published around 10:30 a.m. "They have not located anything so far."
Just after 11:30, UConn confirmed, stating Tasker will remain closed, but classes starting after 12:30 will be held as usual. Tasker is "still under investigation," but the rest of the campus has been declared safe. The Tasker Building is administrative and does not have any classrooms or dorms.
"At approximately 9:30am, an alert for a bomb threat to the Tasker Building on Storrs Campus was issued (aka Admissions)," UConn said in a statement on its homepage. "If you are in or near this building, evacuate now. All other locations on campus, shelter in place. Do not make independent decision to evacuate. Check back with alert.uconn.edu for updates and additional instructions."
Connecticut schools have had their fair share of lockdowns and other types of threats of violence. Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) was placed on lockdown the Monday after Halloween because a student re-entered his dorm building wearing a suspicious costume. His weapons were later found to be fake, but the campus was still gripped in fear for a few hours.
Later in Nov., Yale University was placed on lockdown after an anonymous payphone caller warned authorities of a person heading to campus with loaded firearms. This was later reveled as a hoax, but police could not uncover the identity of the caller.
