By John Christoffersen
Associated Press
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A former student claiming to have a bomb took several students and a professor hostage Tuesday inside a university classroom, a school spokeswoman said.
The suspect took over a religious studies classroom at Fairfield University, a Catholic school in southwestern Connecticut, said school spokeswoman Nancy Habetz.
Some 300 students were evacuated from the building, Canisius Hall.
Fairfield First Selectman Kenneth Flatto said the suspect released five people, leaving 17 students and a faculty member in the classroom.
Police were in contact with the suspect, whom Flatto described as a recent graduate. Flatto said the suspect was carrying a bag and said some items had been thrown out of the classroom window.
“At this point we know that everyone is safe in the classroom,” university Vice President Doug Whiting told WTNH-TV. “My understanding is that they are communicating through a door in the classroom.”
Fairfield police Officer Mark Fracassini said police received a call about 4:05 p.m. saying a former student was on the second floor claiming to have an explosive device.
The hall is home to the academic vice president, the College of Arts and Sciences, the university registrar and other offices as well as faculty offices and classrooms.
The school, opened in 1957, has about 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
Fairfield is about 20 miles from the New York border.
On the Net:
http://www.fairfield.edu
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