State police investigating explosive device found on Radford University's campus

RADFORD (WSLS 10) - Virginia State Police and Radford University are asking for the public's help with an ongoing investigation into an improvised explosive device recovered Wednesday from a university intramural field.

At about 12 p.m. Wednesday, bomb technicians with the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Salem Field Office responded to the scene in the 300 block of E. Main Street in the town of Radford after a university maintenance worker discovered the suspicious-looking device near a trashcan at the volleyball court.

The worker immediately notified Radford University police, who requested help from state police.

State police bomb techs nullified the device, but the incident remains under investigation by the Virginia State Police and Radford University Police.

Radford University released this statement regarding the situation:

Yesterday, Radford University staff noticed a suspicious device at an intramural recreation area (a volleyball court), which is  located off the main campus complex, and during a time when the location was not being used by campus patrons. Radford University police responded, assessed and secured the scene. Out of an abundance of caution, RUPD notified Virginia State Police. The suspicious device was quickly assessed as not being a threat to the campus community and was quickly suspected of being of a pyrotechnic (firework) nature.  While the incident remains under investigation, there has been and continues to be no information to indicate a threat to Radford University.

Anyone with information regarding the device or recalls seeing any suspicious activity on or near the intramural field along East Main Street between Burlington and Whitehall streets is asked to contact Radford University Police at 540-831-5500 or by email police@radford.edu. Virginia State Police at 540-375-9500 or calling #77 on a cell phone or by email at questions@vsp.virginia.gov.