Contact: Jennifer Hollingshead
Office: (573) 882-0601
E-mail: hollingsheadj@umsystem.edu
ROLLA, Mo. -- All classes at the University of Missouri-Rolla have been canceled for Tuesday, Feb. 27, due to a threat affecting the Butler-Carlton Civil Building on campus.
Classes should resume Wednesday, Feb. 28. All non-essential employees are asked to remain off campus today, Feb. 27. Employees currently on campus in a safe location may remain on campus.
At approximately 2:32 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27, UMR Police Department responded to a call regarding a UMR student who was threatening terrorist type actions. The student was apprehended at UMR's Butler-Carlton Civil Engineering Building located on Pine Street in Rolla by the UMR Police Department and is now in custody and is being questioned by law enforcement officials.
The Civil Engineering Building has been evacuated and the City of Rolla has activated the Mobile Command Center to respond to this situation. The roads near the Civil Engineering Building, Including 12th Street to 16th on Pine Street and Vichy Road and St. Pat's Road, have been closed with detour signs. Please use alternative routes.
Law enforcement agencies are investigating this incident. In addition to the Rolla Police Department, Rolla Fire Department and UMR Police Department, the Missouri Highway Patrol and FBI are also on the scene. In addition St. Patrick Catholic School has also canceled classes.
The Fort Leonard Wood Explosive Operations Division is currently investigating the possibility that a bomb may be located in the Civil Engineering Building.
The Rolla Fire Department Weapons of Mass Destruction team has set up a decontamination unit on 16th Street south of Pine to decontaminate eight UMR students, one professor and 14 other individuals who were in the building at the time the suspect was apprehended. A white powdery substance was found on the suspect that is currently being investigated along with possible bomb materials. The unit was activated as a precautionary measure until the substance can be determined.
Students are advised to call 573-341-MINE (573-341-6467) or check the UMR website for updates. Faculty and staff may call 573-341-7888 for updates as well.
For more information please call Scott Grahl, Communications Coordinator for the City of Rolla, at (573) 426-6943 or Mary Helen Stoltz, Manager of Public Relations at UMR, at (573) 578-6303.
Reviewed 2010-06-15