Erica Gornall

November 13, 2007

LSE Security felt the strain last week as “suspicious packages” caused at least two disruptions at the School.

With Security already investigating a spate of locker thefts, Houghton Street had to be cordoned off to students, staff and the general public last Tuesday.

At around 12.45pm, at the peak of the lunch hour, the area between the Old Building and the bottom of Houghton Street was cut off. Police closed the Aldwych from Kingsway to the Strand for about 15 minutes.

When Pulse radio and reporters from The Beaver questioned officials and police officers about the disruption, they were told that the area was inaccessible due to a “suspicious package”. Students watched as police scanned the area but the area was opened again soon after.
A School spokesperson later stated, “a package had been left on a bus in the Aldwych. This was cleared by the police - the package contained no device.” 

Later on the same day, an LSE steward working at an event in the Old Theatre alerted Security to another suspicious package.  The suitcase was left at the end of what had been a heated and controversial lecture about Israel.

The steward, Mark Harrison, described how he had noticed the package and the seriousness at which LSE Security took the threat. "As people were leaving the theatre,” he said, “I noticed that a small suitcase had been left by the back row of seats. We'd been told to look out for anything suspicious so I told Security straight away. 
“The head of Security very quickly and calmly checked out the contents without causing any panic.”

According to Harrison, LSE Security staff were “incredibly fast at dealing with the potential problem". The incidence of two potential threats on the same day has raised concerns of an increased threat on campus, which the School has denied.  Stewards had been told to look out for any threats. 

Both reported threats were false alarms and in both cases, the areas were back to normal within minutes. Students are encouraged to remain vigilant.