Louisiana campus shut down after 2 packages found

BILL FULLER
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bomb technicians are working to neutralize a suspicious device near one of Louisiana’s largest universities while authorities investigate a second suspicious package found in a in a nearby parking garage.

Louisiana state police said in a Facebook post that residents near University of Louisiana at Lafayette may hear a controlled explosion.

State Trooper Brooks David (dah-VEED) says the bomb squad was neutralizing the first device, which was found in a trash can. Authorities say they are carefully examining what they described as a second suspicious package.

Classes and other activities were canceled for the day.

Lafayette police spokesman Kyle Soriez says someone called about 5:35 a.m. to say a bomb had been placed at Girard Park, which sits next to the sprawling, 1,500-acre university campus.

University spokeswoman Kathleen Thames says about 5,500 students are enrolled in summer school and 400 freshmen were coming for orientation.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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