Florida university reopens for classes after bomb scare
The University of Central Florida's main campus has reopened for classes after police found a series of "improvised explosive devices" in a hall of residence, the university's website says.
A statement on the university's Facebook page said: "Explosive materials have been rendered safe and will be removed from campus by noon."
The building where the devices were found remains closed and students living there are not allowed to return to collect any belongings.
A bomb squad from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is examining improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found at the University of Central Florida, an alert on the university website said.
The hall of residence at the University of Central Florida's main campus in Orlando Credit: Google Maps
The picture above shows what is though to be the hall of residence where police found IEDs today as well as an assault weapon and handgun. They also found the body of a male victim thought to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The building - known as 'Tower 1' - has been evacuated and food and counselling services have been made available to the displaced students elsewhere on campus.
'Improvised explosive devices' on Florida uni campus
The University of Central Florida has closed its main campus in Orlando while police investigate an apparent suicide and a number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found overnight in a hall of residence.
An alert on the website of the University of Central Florida Credit: University of Central Florida
A notice on the university's website said that all classes due to start before noon had been cancelled, and instructed only "essential personnel" to report for work.
The notice said police received a fire alarm call at twenty minutes past midnight local time (4:30 GMT).
On arriving, they reportedly found a "victim who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound" as well as a "handgun, an assault weapon and IEDs".
Terry Knowles, who witnessed the plane crash in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, told the Associated Press the aircraft was "an instantaneous fireball" when it hit the ground.
Mr Knowles said:
I was working on a car, and I heard the engine behind me. I turned around and saw the plane coming right over the building in front of me.
It hit the ground and exploded. It was an instantaneous fireball.
The US National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation after a small aircraft crashed near Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport yesterday:
NTSB is investigating an accident involving a Piper PA-31T Cheyenne that crashed in Ft. Lauderdale, FL today.
Emergency workers have recovered three bodies from the wreckage of an airplane that crashed shortly after departing from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in Florida.
Fort Lauderdale spokesman Matt Little told local media that the plane banked right after taking off and crashed into several parked vehicles.
Airplane 'reported mechanical problems' before crash
The airplane that has crashed into a building near Fort Lauderdale airport is believed to have reported mechanical problems before trying to return to the airport, according to local media.
US media report that the airplane made a sharp cut to the right and twisted down towards the ground shortly before 4:30 pm local time.