Die Sperrungen können sich auch kurzfristig ändern und zusätzliche Hörsäle betreffen. © RUB, Marquard

Service restrictions On 23 June 2020, half the campus will be sealed off

The site of the future multi-storey car park “Parkhaus Ost” has to be inspected for a possible aircraft bomb. Now it is certain: it is a bomb, but a small one, and it is now defused.

Update 23 June 2020, 12.55 p.m.

The bomb has been successfully defused.

Update 23 June 2020, 12.30 p.m.

The evacuation is complete. The Arnsberg district government’s explosive ordnance disposal service is now beginning to defuse the bomb.

Update 23 June 2020, 10.45 a.m.

The evacuation has started on the eastern edge of the campus and in the housing estate.

Update 23 June 2020, 9.30 a.m.

Just now the first information comes from the fire brigade Bochum: The object is exposed. It is an American five-ton bomb. This means that the evacuation radius is reduced from 500 metres to 250 metres. However, it is not yet clear when the evacuation is going to start. The fire department and police are currently establishing an operations centre in the “Studierendenhaus”.

Original news

The Bochum fire brigade and public order office (Ordnungsamt) have informed RUB of a so-called suspected site on campus. During a preliminary inspection of the building site of the car park between the ID building and the university’s seminar building, an object was found at a depth of about three metres that might be a bomb. In such cases, the object is exposed and, if necessary, the bomb is defused by the explosive ordnance disposal service. This is scheduled for 23 June 2020. As a precautionary measure, RUB will therefore close the entire eastern campus between the HZO and the ID buildings all day on 23 June from 6 a.m. for persons and vehicles.

FAQ

Why is only half the campus being closed?
The lockdown/evacuation zone was determined by experienced fire brigade personnel and includes a generous safety buffer. Since the suspected site isn’t in a central location, it is not necessary to lock down the entire campus.

Which buildings/roads are affected?

I buildings incl. I-Nordstraße and I-Südstraße
N buildings incl. N-Nordstraße and N-Südstraße
SSC, FNO, HZO, Botanic Garden (currently closed anyway), Zemos
Oase (Buscheyplatz)
Overbergstraße

Bochum University of Applied Sciences and possibly Universitätsstraße including the U35 are likewise affected. All public roads and areas within the zone will be closed by the city of Bochum.

Conversely, this means that the following buildings and locations are not affected: UV, MZ, SH, UB, Audimax, Forum, Mensa building and the entire western campus with G buildings and M buildings.

Why on 23 June?
The date was chosen to fall exactly between the exam phases. Written exams from the last winter semester will by then be completed, exams from the current summer semester begin one week later. This means no major exams will be taking place.

Who is in charge of lockdown and defusing?
RUB, the city of Bochum and the Bochum fire brigade are in charge. Administrative department 5.I is responsible for sealing off the entire area on the RUB campus (roads, paths, building entrances). Entering the area is prohibited, there will be no exceptions.

Where can I park at RUB?
Before and during the lockdown, parking on campus will be available in car park P-West (P 12 and 13).