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DePaul library reopens 3 hours after bomb threat

  • By Peter Sachs
    • •
  • Staff Writer
    • •
  • February 19, 2009 @ 2:46 PM
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DePaul University's Richardson Library reopened today after being shut for about three hours because of a bomb threat.

The Chicago Police Department’s Bomb and Arson Unit responded to the Lincoln Park campus shortly before 11:30 a.m. this morning after someone found a note in a men’s restroom stating that there were two bombs in the library, police spokesman Daniel O’Brien said.

DePaul alerted all its students and faculty about the bomb threat with e-mails, text messages and public address system announcements, university spokeswoman Denise Mattson said.

Shortly before 1 p.m., officers led two bomb-sniffing dogs into the building. By 2:30 p.m., police had determined there was no bomb and the building reopened, according to a statement on DePaul’s Web site.

The 2300 block of North Kenmore Avenue was closed to vehicles during the incident, but pedestrians were allowed to walk through the area.

The statement called such incidents “a routine prank” and added, “DePaul regrets the inconvenience this unfounded threat caused.”

Daily News Staff Writer Peter Sachs covers higher education. He can be reached at 773.362.5002, ext. 18

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Discuss

FRANK EDWARDS, 02-20-2009

kudos to Craig for helping the Daily News expand its Twitter presence!

CRAIG KANALLEY, 02-19-2009

I have to agree with Geoff. I think Twitter is a nice supplement, but there is no replacing good journalism like that offered at the Chi-Town Daily News.

The tweets are interesting, but they are nothing without the context that news sites add.

GEOFF DOUGHERTY, 02-19-2009

I'm not sure there's really any winning or losing in this situation.

Twitter is a great way to find quick info on somthing like this -- if you happen to be following the person tweeting about it.

If you're not, a news site comes in handy. Ditto if you want more than a 160-character alert.

PAT FLYNN, 02-19-2009

Twitter is beating everyone to everything now. (http://newsnow.ning.com/profiles/blogs/tweeting-a-bomb-threat-at) it's like playing 10 on 1 basketball. You know who is gonna win.

CHRISTIANA JOHNS, 02-19-2009

DePaul did NOT alert all of its students.

Many students did not receive word about this bomb threat, which is ironic considering DePaul e-mailed about the U-Pass situation and the gas leak at the Loop Campus in January.

CRAIG KANALLEY, 02-19-2009

Thanks for the update, Peter. This is the most informative report I've seen yet on the incident, and I was curious to know how they found out about the threat - thanks for providing that information.

It was interesting to follow this story on Twitter, as DePaul students were tweeting about it. Gave you a shoutout in DePaul class blog too for your informative and speedy coverage:
http://newsnow.ning.com/profiles/blogs/tweeting-a-bomb-threat-at

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