Police: All clear after suspicious package found at Temple University

NORTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police have given the all clear after a suspicious package was found at Temple University on Tuesday morning.

It all began around 9 a.m. when a disposal crew found the item while removing trash from a loading dock in the area of North 12th and West Norris St.

Authorities tell us it was some kind of military-style canvas belt with orange and red wires attached.

300 students from the college of engineering were evacuated as investigators worked the scene.

The all-clear was given after at the suspicious device was detonated and the bomb squad confirmed it was harmless.

Temple Police Chief Charles Leone says despite the outcome, the disposal crew did the right thing by reporting what they saw.

"We're fortunate that through a lot of training, and we have some great people that work at the university, that know if they see something out of the ordinary to give us a call," he said. "We're real fortunate that these two gentlemen that found it had enough presence of mind to say 'Hey, something doesn't look right. Let's get some help over here.'"

The bomb squad swept the building as a precaution but nothing was found. The all clear was given around 11 a.m.