Bomb threat forces evacuation of graduate apartment building

Lawrence Apartments were evacuated early yesterday morning after the building superintendent received a written bomb threat.

At 6:42 a.m. University Public Safety called Princeton Township Police to the scene. The threat was found on the superintendent's office door, according to the police report.

About 200 people were evacuated from the 12-floor apartment building, and bomb-search dogs from three nearby police departments were brought in to search the area.

At 10:05 a.m. the building was determined to be safe and was reopened, according to the report.

This incident came just three days after a telephone bomb threat to McCosh Hall was received prior to the Rev. Jesse Jackson's scheduled speech in McCosh 50.

University Public Safety Crime Prevention Specialist Barry Weiser said that law enforcement officials do not believe the two threats are related.

"At first we did," he said. "What we're looking at now, we don't think so."

Weiser said well-publicized bomb threats often bring copycat cases. "They become contagious," he said. "Most of the indications are that it's not the same person."

Lawrence Apartments, a University complex housing mostly graduate students, is located off of Alexander Street on the south side of Springdale Golf Course.