U of U Hospital receives possible bomb threat, no threat found
Nov 15, 2022, 5:57 PM | Updated: Jan 5, 2023, 2:44 pm
University of Utah Police and Salt Lake City Police are investigating a possible bomb threat at the University of Utah Hospital on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. Photo credit: Salt Lake City Police.
SALT LAKE CITY — University of Utah Hospital received a possible bomb threat around 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The hospital is working with law enforcement from both the University of Utah and Salt Lake City to investigate the situation. At roughly, 6:45 p.m., law enforcement personnel confirmed the item in question did not pose a threat to the hospital and community.
Salt Lake City Police say there is no threat to the public. Additionally, police also say there is no major impact to university operations.
Police also say 100 South and Mario Capecchi to the front of the hospital is closed. The public is asked to avoid the area at this time. Over the next few hours, however, the hospital will return to normal operations.
In a post on Twitter, the University of Utah Hospital issued the following statement: “We are continuing to secure the impacted area and we are prioritizing the safety of our team members and patients.”
The Hazardous Device Unit from Salt Lake City Police is on site. It is coordinating with the University of Utah to help make sure all in the community is safe.
Police report there have been no injuries reported.
In a press conference Monday night, Brent Weisberg, of the Salt Lake City Police Department, says the object in question was an unattended bag in a restroom.
He says the Hazardous Device Unit was able to use X-ray technology to determine the bag was not a threat to the hospital and community.
“At this point, we are still in the process of determining how that bag ended up there,” Weisberg said.
The University of Utah Hospital reopened to patients with emergencies Tuesday night at 9 p.m.
University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics CEO Dan Lundergan issued a statement Tuesday night.
“The safety of our patients and team members is our priority and they were front and center in all of our decision-making this evening,” the statement read. “I’m relieved this resolved without incident and I’m incredibly grateful to our teams, to our law enforcement partners, and to all those involved in supporting our hospital this evening.”
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