UK: Suspicious packages prompts evacuations at two universities March 6 /update 1

Event

Authorities evacuated several buildings at the University of Glasgow (Scotland) and the University of Essex (Colchester, Essex county, England) on Wednesday, March 6, following reports of suspicious packages at the universities. Authorities reportedly discovered a suspicious package in the mail room of the University of Glasgow, while police in Colchester confirmed the presence of a suspicious package and are working with the Ministry of Defense's explosive ordinance disposal teams. A security cordon remains in place at both campuses as of Wednesday afternoon (local time). Officials have not confirmed if the suspicious packages found on the university campuses are related to the three improvised explosive devices (IED) discovered across the London area on Tuesday, March 5. A heightened security presence and localized transportation disruptions are to be expected over the coming hours. 

Context

Multiple suspicious packages were reported across the London area on the morning of March 5, including at the Compass Centre in Hounslow near Heathrow Airport (LHR), Waterloo station, and the grounds of London City Airport (LCY). Officials confirmed police found three improvised explosive devices (IED) placed in envelopes, which were designed to ignite a small fire when opened. 

Advice

Individuals in the UK are advised to monitor developments to the situation and prepare for transportation delays, and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities