Bomb squad finds no threat at mall

Police were called to College Mall Wednesday afternoon after a mall employee saw a suspicious device that appeared to be a bomb, Bloomington Police Capt. Joe Qualters said.

At around 10:50 a.m., security personnel at the mall called Bloomington police to report the object, which was found near the T.G.I. Friday’s on the west side of the mall.

“A portion of the mall was evacuated as part of a standard safety precaution,” said Catherine Fisher, director of mall marketing and business development. “Bloomington Police investigated, and the device turned out to be harmless.”

Mall security evacuated the part of the mall near T.G.I. Friday’s for a few hours in response to the device, and the Indiana bomb squad arrived at the premises to assess the situation, Qualters said.

“It was suspicious enough that it warranted the bomb squad,” he said.

The part of the mall that had been closed due to the incident was reopened by 1 p.m.
“All parts of the mall are open and business is running as usual,” Fisher said.

— Michael Auslen