A man has been charged with making a bomb threat near Coffman Memorial Union on the University of Minnesota campus, causing the building to be evacuated Wednesday evening.
According to the criminal complaint, 36 year old Ahmed Mohamed Umar, of Minneapolis, has been charged with one count of threats of violence with explosives or an incendiary device.
Just before 5pm, police were called to Coffman Memorial Union on a report of an unwanted person. The caller reported that Umar was filming students, attempting to enter a room and refusing to leave.
At the scene, officers identified Umar and took him to a bench outside. There, they learned he also had an active warrant for failing to appear in court in Dakota County.
When officers told Umar he was under arrest, he stated that he “had a bomb,” indicating that it was in his backpack.
Officers then escorted Umar away from the backpack and evacuated the Union. Nearby streets and sidewalks were also closed.
The Minneapolis Police Bomb Squad arrived to search the backpack and no bomb was found.