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Suspicious devices found at Seminole Hard Rock Tampa prompts 2 separate evacuations

No motive was immediately reported the the placement of the devices.
Credit: Kristina Blokhin - stock.adobe.com
FILE: Seminole Hard Rock hotel and casino in Tampa, Fla.

TAMPA, Fla. — The Seminole Hard Rock Tampa was evacuated Sunday night and again on Monday after the discovery of two suspicious devices at the Florida hotel and casino, officials said.

Tribal police described the crude concealed devices as having fireworks components, but it wasn't immediately clear how dangerous they were or who left them.

The first device was discovered shortly before midnight Sunday in a men’s restroom near the Casino, police said in a news release. Part of the casino was immediately evacuated, and the device was "deactivated" and removed by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Disposal Team, officials said. The casino reopened around 3 a.m.

As part of the investigation into the first device, a second "related" device was discovered in another men's restroom in the casino just after noon Monday, police said. The area was evacuated again, and the sheriff's office team removed and deactivated the second device, officials said.

Besides the sheriff's office, Seminole police were also working with the FBI. Surveillance video is under review. No motive was immediately reported the the placement of the devices.

All areas of the casino were open Monday evening.

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