The Seminole Hard Rock Tampa wasn’t taking any chances after the discovery of a couple of suspicious devices, leading to two partial evacuations of the property.
Tribal police explained that the devices contained firework components and weren’t properly hidden. The authorities decided to evacuate the premises on Sunday and Monday as they were not sure if they were dangerous.
initial device was found in a men’s bathroom beside the gaming floor
The initial device was found in a men’s bathroom beside the gaming floor not long before midnight on Sunday. The Bomb Disposal Team of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office safely removed it and the casino opened at around 3am.
It was around noon the next day that someone found a second suspicious device in a bathroom in the mezzanine area, which led to another evacuation. The bomb squad returned to neutralize the potential threat.
Tribal police, the sheriff’s office, and the FBI are now looking at surveillance footage to try to identify the person or persons who planted the devices, and the motive remains unclear. The casino is back operating as normal.