News briefs

LAPD bomb squad called to Murphy Hall

A police bomb squad was called to Murphy Hall on Wednesday to
investigate a suspicious package.

University police said a Murphy Hall employee was sent a package
she did not recognize or expect and called authorities shortly
before 11 a.m. A bomb squad from the Los Angeles Police Department
was called to handle the situation and arrived around noon.

Before the bomb squad arrived, the employee remembered she had
indeed ordered something, but the bomb squad still checked the
package. Thirty minutes after the team arrived, the bomb squad said
they had the situation under control and that the package was not
explosive or dangerous.

Authorities said the building did not have to be evacuated and
that the package had some sort of stickers or labels.

University police said they usually call the LAPD or the L.A.
County Sheriff’s Department if a bomb squad is needed. Sgt.
Miguel Banuelos, from university police, said bomb squads have a
diverse stock of tools and machines to use when called to a scene,
but was not sure which tools they used Wednesday. These tools
include dogs, x-ray equipment, robots with cameras and robots with
arms, among others.

Compiled by Ari Bloomekatz, Bruin staff.