Police at Montana State University in Bozeman announced that Parking Lot 1 east of Jefferson Hall and north of Yellowstone Hall have been cordoned off to investigate a piece of war memorabilia that a student bought online.
The item is said to be an "inert Bulgarian landmine" that reportedly had its explosives and primer removed.
A bomb squad unit from the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff's Office in Helena is at the scene and will collect the device, and it will be taken to Malmstrom Air Force Base near Great Falls for disposal.
MSU posted a "Public Safety Advisory" about the incident; here is the full text of the announcement:
Dear Campus,
Out of an abundance of caution, MSU Police have cordoned off Parking Lot 1 east of Jefferson Hall and north of Yellowstone Hall and some of the surrounding area to investigate a piece of war memorabilia that a student ordered through the internet and was keeping in a vehicle. The risk to the public is extremely low.
The memorabilia is an inert Bulgarian landmine. An online vendor was selling these landmines with the explosives and primers removed. Law enforcement and the U.S. Postal Service were prompted to begin an investigation after one of these devices was dropped in transit through the mail in Minnesota and began to vibrate. This prompted law enforcement and the U.S. Postal Service to investigate where these packages had been sent, which led to the student purchase at MSU.
Again, law enforcement believe these devices pose little risk, but out of caution MSU Police is working with other law enforcement to collect the device and have it disposed of properly.
At the present time, MSU Police have cordoned off Parking Lot 1 and the surrounding area. An explosive disposal unit from Helena will collect the device early this afternoon, where it will ultimately be taken to Malmstrom Air Force Base outside of Great Falls for disposal.
MSU Police hope to have Parking Lot 1 and the nearby area open by early afternoon.
This is not a test.
