Reitz Union Parking Garage Reopened

October 19, 2009

Please note: The University of Florida Police Department has a standard procedure for dealing with bomb threats. That procedure was followed during Monday’s bomb threat at the Reitz Student Union. The emergency text messaging system is used in cases where a threat is confirmed and has the potential to affect the entire campus. It is important to remember that the campus covers 2,000 acres and the incident Monday at the Student Union involved an area with a roughly 500-foot radius.

UPDATED: 10/19/09 (3:19pm)

The Reitz Union parking garage was reopened about 3 p.m. Monday after University Police Department, local law enforcement officers and fire rescue officials had spent the bulk of the day investigating an unattended backpack. A maintenance worker noticed the backpack which was left in an area not normally occupied by students and reported that its contents seemed unusual.

Members of the bomb squad used a robot to help identify the contents of the backpack, which after being tested turned out to be common playground sand. The scene was cleared and the garage reopened.

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ORIGINAL POST:

Backpack being investigated at Reitz Union garage

The University Police Department and local law enforcement are investigating a backpack that was left unattended in an area not normally occupied by students. A maintenance worker noticed the backpack and reported that its contents seemed unusual.

Members of the bomb squad are using a robot to help identify the contents of the backpack. The Reitz Union garage will remain closed during the investigation. As details are learned, updates on the situation will be posted here.