University RCMP evacuated buildings and closed off road access around West Parkade this morning in response to an unspecified threat. While buildings and roads have since re-opened, officers are continuing to investigate the scene.
In response to an alert about a “non-specific threat” on campus around 11:30 a.m., the RCMP blocked off a part of Lower Mall between the parkade and Agronomy Road, redirecting local traffic away from the scene. The blockade was estimated to have been set up around 11:40 a.m.
The University Services Building (USB) and Buchanan Tower were evacuated for reasons related to the threat. Leslie Dickson, acting senior director of UBC media relations, confirmed that USB was the only building near West Parkade that was evacuated — but students, staff and faculty in the Continuing Studies Building also left their building around 1 p.m.
Community members were allowed to start re-entering the buildings around 2 p.m. Shortly after, RCMP also left the scene and re-opened the roads.
The area around West Parkade is currently being closed off. It is currently unclear what has happened. More updates will come as details emerge. pic.twitter.com/t3afjpztKQ
— Ubyssey News (@UbysseyNews) June 28, 2018
Currently, the RCMP is still investigating the alert with the Lower Mainland Integrated Police Dog Service. RCMP was unable to comment on the specific nature of the threat, but maintained that there is no immediate substantiated threat to UBC community members.
“We’ve been unable to substantiate any threat at this time, however this investigation is ongoing,” said RCMP Sergeant Janelle Shoihet.
“If there are evacuated areas or cordoned off areas, we ask that you listen to the police officers in those areas for your own safety.”
This article has been updated to note that the Continuing Studies Building was not formally evacuated.
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