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February 14, 2008 - 6:20PM
ASU police investigating bomb threat
Allison Douglas, For the Tribune
The Arizona State University Police Department received a call Thursday that a bomb would be set off on Tempe campus within an hour, according to ASU police Commander Jim Hardina.
The caller, who phoned at about 1 p.m., specifically mentioned the Schwada Classroom Office Building, just east of the ASU Bookstore.
“We set up a police line as soon as we got everyone out,” Hardina said.
He estimated that Arizona State University Police evacuated 700 to 900 students in and around the building.
ASU police then turned to university faculty working in the Schwada building for help, because they are more familiar with the environment.
“Office workers know what looks suspicious and what doesn’t,” Hardina said. “We also had a representative come in from the Tempe police and one from the Tempe Fire Department.”
An ASU student standing across from the building after the incident said it was a cause for concern.
“That makes me very scared,” Jessica Hughes said. “I don’t want that at my school, and I don’t think that’s safe.”
Hughes said she didn’t even know about the threat and was surprised ASU police didn’t do more.
Police began breaking down the police line at 3 p.m., saying neither they nor faculty had found anything suspicious in or around the building.
Some police remained to patrol the area as classes resumed.
Hardina said they do have suspect information and are in the process of investigating the matter further.
Phoenix police have bomb threat policies in place for such occurrences, which also serve as a state standard to guard against possible bombings, according to the Phoenix Police Bomb Threat Response Plan.
Documents on bomb threat policies state that most callers threatening a bomb are looking to create an atmosphere of anxiety and panic.
In Thursday’s case, students left the Schwada building calmly while being evacuated and entered in the same manner after the incident.
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