Bomb Threat Forces Evacuation at Utah State University Before TPUSA Event,

Utah State University briefly evacuated one of its most iconic buildings Tuesday afternoon after police discovered a suspicious package just hours before a Turning Point USA event featuring prominent Republican leaders.

Authorities ordered the Old Main Building cleared at 2:44 p.m., directing students and staff to exit immediately. Bomb squad officers detonated the device on site, shouting “fire in the hole” three times before the blast echoed across campus.

By evening, the university declared the area safe. “A suspicious device was located and deemed to be a non-explosive device. Out of an abundance of caution, the bomb squad detonated the suspicious device. Old Main building is now clear and safe. All scheduled events may resume as normal,” USU spokesperson Amanda DeRito said in a statement.

A Political Backdrop

The scare came as TPUSA prepared to host a high-profile gathering featuring Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and former Congressman Jason Chaffetz, with TPUSA commentator Alex Clark moderating.

The incident struck a nerve given the tragic assassination of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk just weeks earlier at an event in Utah Valley. Security concerns have been top-of-mind for conservatives attending campus events in the aftermath, with officials confirming additional safeguards were in place for Tuesday night’s program.

Student Reactions

Some students described confusion as the evacuation unfolded.

“I was in class when a man came in and told us we needed to evacuate,” said student Kiera Larsen. “There were a few shouts of ‘fire in the hole’ before it happened, and no one quite knew what was happening. I think there was some shock that there actually was something that might have exploded.”

Another student, Sam Van Orden, said the seriousness of the situation didn’t hit him until he stepped outside: “We all just took our backpacks. It didn’t really seem that serious… but once we got out, we saw all the police officers and the K-9 dogs, so I figured it was something a bit more intense than a safety drill.”

Others described panic as the detonation rang out. “Hearing the police say ‘fire in the hole’ and then detonation, I just started running,” said student Maddie Widman. “It was loud and a bit chaotic.”

Emma Miller, another student, admitted the experience shook her sense of safety: “Our school is a safe school, but I think just hearing that bomb go off showed that this can happen anywhere.”

Heightened Tensions

While officials stressed the package contained no explosives, the episode underscores the increasingly hostile climate for conservative speakers and organizations on American campuses.

“It’s impossible to ignore the timing,” one faculty member remarked privately. “After what happened to Charlie Kirk, people are on edge.”

Law enforcement has not released details about the package or whether it was placed deliberately to disrupt the TPUSA event. No injuries were reported, and the program went forward as planned.

But for many, the message was clear: political intimidation—whether symbolic or deadly—remains a growing threat to free speech and conservative voices in higher education.