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A bomb scare put University Hospital on lockdown for hours today while police and K-9 units swept the building.
Around 9:30 this morning, a call came into the hospital's general number reporting a bomb. . The call taker says a man who sounded like he was faking a Middle Eastern accent said there was a bomb in the building and it was set to go off. So the decision was hospital went on lockdown.
Traffic was stopped from coming up the road, and emergency personal were ready and waiting nearby. Medical helicopters and ambulances were even diverted to other hospitals.
People were welcome to leave the hospital, but very few were allowed in. "We were still accepting those patients who were critically injured or suffering critical symptoms on a walk-in basis. However, we were re-routing land and air transportation," said Ryann Rasmussen, spokesman for University Hospital.
"It's really ridiculous they would want to hurt people who are already hurt. It doesn't make any sense," said Sylvia Busic, who was turned away from the hospital.
At one point, hospital officials started to discuss evacuating some patients. But just after 2 p.m., the all clear was called.
University police says they swept the entire building. They came across three suspicious packages and investigated them, but they didn't find any problems.
Right now, the hospital is 100 percent back open and welcoming patients and visitors.
Police say they are working to trace the call and find out who made it in the first place.
E-mail: sdallof@ksl.com