Students evacuated from US campus after explosives found in dorm
Hundreds of students were evacuated from a dorm on the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando after explosive devices were found as authorities were investigating a death.
University of Central Florida police block off a street near the Tower 1 dorm after explosive devices were found Photo: AP
By Sarah Titterton and agencies 2:40PM GMT 18 Mar 2013
University police were called to the dorm around 12:20am local time after a fire alarm went off, UCF spokesman Grant Heston said. While they were on their way to the scene, an emergency call came in about a man with a gun.
Arriving officers found a man dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a residence at the Tower 1 dorm.
The dead man was inside one of the dorm suites – either the main living or kitchen area or a bedroom. Inside the room, police also found an assault weapon, a handgun and improvised explosive devices.
Mr Heston said the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the FBI are helping with the investigation. The sheriff's bomb squad was examining the explosive devises Monday morning.
About 500 students were evacuated from the dorm and an adjacent parking garage was closed.
"We don't believe there is any imminent threat to the campus," Mr Heston said.
The US university cancelled classes through noon Monday as a precaution.
Officials have not said whether the dead man was a university student.
Source: AP
