Utah State University temporarily evacuated its historic Old Main Building on Tuesday after a suspicious package was discovered just hours before a scheduled Turning Point USA event featuring several prominent Republican figures. The device was detonated by the bomb squad as a precaution, and the campus was declared safe about an hour later.
The evacuation occurred around 2:44 p.m., when an emergency alert instructed all building occupants to leave immediately and follow emergency personnel’s directions. Social media videos captured bomb squad officers warning “fire in the hole” before a loud detonation echoed across campus. University spokesperson Amanda DeRito later confirmed the device was non-explosive but had been intentionally detonated out of caution.
The discovery heightened concerns due to the political nature of the event, which featured speakers including Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Senator Mike Lee, Representative Andy Biggs, and former Representative Jason Chaffetz. The event went ahead as planned, with additional security measures in place.
Students inside Old Main at the time described the situation as confusing and tense. Some initially believed it was a drill, but the heavy police and K-9 presence quickly signaled the seriousness of the situation. Many students recounted the loud detonation and resulting unease, noting how surreal it felt to experience a bomb squad intervention on campus.
Although the device turned out to be non-explosive, officials emphasized the importance of following protocol. No injuries were reported, and normal campus activities resumed later that day. Still, the incident amplified existing anxieties following recent acts of political violence in the region.
Authorities have not released information about the origin or intent behind the suspicious package. The event has renewed discussions about campus safety, especially surrounding politically charged gatherings, with students and staff expressing concern over the potential for further disruptions or threats in the future.
