Several U.W. buildings evacuated after bomb scare

Seattle Post-Intelligencer/November 17, 2001

Several University of Washington buildings were evacuated Friday afternoon after someone discovered a suspicious package near a building used by the forestry school.

Police later determined the object found outside Bloedel Hall was simply batteries wrapped together with some wire. It was unclear whether the package was left as a bomb hoax or simply by accident.

A phone message for additional details was not immediately returned by UW campus police.

A worker alerted authorities around 2:20 p.m., describing the package as a cluster of pipe bombs with a wire sticking out. Three buildings were evacuated and portions of two nearby streets were closed temporarily while a bomb squad, campus police, Seattle police and the fire department investigated.

Bloedel Hall houses offices and research and instructional laboratories for the Forest Products and Engineering program with the College of Forest Resources, according to the UW's Web site.

Earlier this year, the Earth Liberation Front claimed responsibility for a May 21 fire at the UW's Center for Urban Horticulture. The school has sought $5.4 million to repair damage from the arson.

The ELF also claimed responsibility for a simultaneous fire at a tree farm in Oregon. The group targeted work on fast-growing hybrid poplar trees it claims would hurt forest ecosystems.