MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- A campus alert was issued this morning by Middle Tennessee State University Police after a suspicious object was discovered at a bus stop near Jones Hall. The alert was issued just before 9 a.m.
Police say a grounds crew discovered a pumpkin sitting on a bench at the bus stop. University police say that pieces of metal and wire were stuck in the pumpkin. One officer said it looked like a "pumpkin porcupine."
The Murfreesboro Police Bomb Unit was called in to investigate. It was quickly determined that the pumpkin was not dangerous and the “all clear” was sounded on campus just 33 minutes later.
A university police spokesman says the department doesn’t know if the pumpkin may have been part of a student's art project, or perhaps a prank of some kind.
Police say several items have been taken into evidence and the incident will be investigated.