SBI Detonates Device On Campus

Police: Possible Bomb Posed Risk of Injury

University police and the State Bureau of Investigation detonated a device resembling a pipe bomb Monday on Cameron Avenue near the center of campus.

The suspicious object, described by University police chief Derek Poarch as a "5-inch piece of metal pipe capped on both ends," was reported to University police at11:03 a.m.

Members of the SBI bomb squad arrived at the scene at about 12:25 p.m. and, after examination, destroyed the device in two separate explosions.

"No bomb went off on this campus today," Poarch said. "Both explosions clearly were caused by investigators."

But Poarch said the object might have been dangerous even though it did not explode on its own. "It looked like a pipe bomb, and we're treating it as a pipe bomb," he said at a press conference after the device had been disabled. "It certainly could have caused injury."

Although Poarch declined to definitively identify the object or to comment on the contents of the device, he said it "absolutely" is possible that the object was a bomb. "We detonated the device for the officers' safety and for everyone else on campus' safety," Poarch said. "But we didn't know it was a bomb before, and we don't necessarily know now."

No note or verbal threat accompanied the alleged bomb, and Poarch said there are no suspects at this time.

While the SBI bomb squad was examining the object, Cameron Avenue was cordoned off from Raleigh Road to near Old East Residence Hall, about 100 yards from the object in either direction.

Curious crowds gathered at either end to watch an SBI robot examine the device.

Ethan Denny, a senior from Stokes County, said he passed within a foot of the alleged bomb on his way to class at about 10:55 a.m. Denny said he was biking in the road when he noticed a piece of pipe.

"I didn't think much about it at the time -- why would there be anything dangerous on campus?" he said. "With all the construction on campus, I didn't think it was anything until I went back later and saw the bomb squad."

Parts of Davie Hall with windows facing the road were evacuated, and students were forced to walk around the building to enter. "We thought it was a call or a threat, but something actually went off," said William Weaver, a freshman from Charlotte who has a class in Davie Hall.

Occupants of certain areas of Carr Building also were evacuated. After the device was detonated, officials began sweeping the bushes for debris and evidence, Poarch said.

To Poarch's knowledge, no similar situation has ever occurred at the University.

Poarch cautioned members of the UNC community to be on alert. "Should anyone see anything suspicious or any pieces of pipe lying around, they should not touch it and should call 911."

Counting Down on Cameron

University police and the State Bureau of Investigation responded to an alleged bomb on Cameron Avenue on Monday, conducting a step-by-step process before declaring the area safe. All times are approximate.

11:03 a.m. -- University police receive report of suspicious object on Cameron Avenue.

11:05 a.m. -- University police report to scene.

11:20 a.m. -- Area along Cameron Avenue between Raleigh Street and Old East Residence Hall roped off.

12:25 p.m. -- State Bureau of Investigations bomb squad truck arrives.

12:35 p.m. -- Police begin to evacuate portions of Carr Building and Davie Hall.

1:15 p.m. -- Police begin to move people away from the area.

1:19 p.m. -- Police clear a stretch of Cameron Avenue between Raleigh Street and Memorial Hall.

1:26 p.m. -- SBI bomb squad attempts to detonate device for first time.

1:43 p.m. -- Police reopen roadway for pedestrians up to edge of yellow tape.

2:01 p.m. -- Police close road from Memorial Hall to Raleigh Street for second time.

2:06 p.m. -- SBI attempts second detonation.

2:25 p.m. -- Officers begin sweeping area around device.

2:50 p.m. -- University Police Chief Derek Poarch holds press conference.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.