Potentially explosive material found on Grinnell College campus

A potentially hazardous, explosive material was removed from Grinnell College Thursday.

According to the press release, the Grinnell College Associate Director of Emergency management notified the Grinnell Fire Department at 2:25 p.m. a possible hazardous chemical had been located in the Noyce Science Center. Campus security secured the area around the chemical. The State Fire Marshal’s Office Bomb Squad was called for assistance.

The chemical was identified at a diethyl ether and has the potential to be chock sensitive and explosive if dried up. The age and condition of the chemical could not be determined, and out of an abundance of caution, a plan was set in motion to remove the chemical from the building and render it safe at a different location.

Special agent bomb technicians packaged the chemical for transports and it was taken to a safe location on campus where they performed a controlled detonation.

An all clear for the Grinnell science center was given at 5:35 p.m.