Hard Rock Hotel in Tampa Evacuated Twice as Two Dodgy Devices Found, FBI on Alert
In Florida, two devices were discovered mere hours apart at the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa, and the casino was evacuated - once before midnight, another by noon the next day. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, were called in, but they still have no leads.
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, Florida, was temporarily evacuated twice this week after two devices were discovered on the property within a span of 12 hours. Law enforcement and bomb disposal teams acted swiftly to ensure public safety, and fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The first incident occurred on Sunday, shortly before midnight, when casino staff discovered what was later described by the Seminole Police Department as a "crude concealed device with fireworks components" in a restroom. The discovery prompted an immediate partial evacuation of the gaming floor and other areas of the casino. Guests were taken outside while police worked to deactivate the device. The Bomb Disposal Team from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department was called in to assist with safely handling and removing the device. After approximately three hours, the area was deemed safe, and the casino reopened to the public.
However, just hours later, at around noon time on Monday, a second device was found in another restroom within the casino. This discovery triggered another round of evacuations as law enforcement moved to assess and neutralize the threat. As with the first device, bomb disposal experts successfully deactivated the second device, and guests were once again allowed to re-enter the casino after a thorough safety inspection.
Ongoing investigation involving the FBI
Following these incidents, the Seminole Police Department contacted the FBI to assist in the investigation. Local officers have been carefully reviewing surveillance footage from the casino in an attempt to identify any potential suspects who may have been responsible for placing the devices. As of this week, no arrests have been made, and the motivation behind the placement of the devices remains unclear. Authorities are continuing their efforts to track down those responsible, while the casino remains open to the public.
The two incidents have raised concerns over safety at the popular Florida gaming property, but law enforcement is confident that their response, along with assistance from federal agencies, will help resolve the case. The swift action by the Seminole Hard Rock's security staff and local law enforcement likely prevented what could have been a more dangerous situation.
Rivers Casino Des Plaines robbery
Meanwhile, in a separate and unrelated incident, a group of four masked robbers targeted patrons outside the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Illinois, early Monday morning. The incident occurred at around 1:45am when two victims, a 38-year-old woman from Palatine, Illinois and her 40-year-old husband, were returning to their Jeep Grand Cherokee after spending time inside the casino. Upon reaching their vehicle, the woman noticed someone inside the Jeep, while another individual stood outside. Two additional suspects waited nearby in a Volvo.
During the confrontation, at least one of the suspects brandished a firearm and threatened the victims. Although no shots were fired, the robbers forcefully removed a silver necklace from the husband and stole another necklace from a 28-year-old man from Vernon Hills, Illinois, who was with the couple. A fourth victim, whose details were not disclosed, was also present during the robbery.
The suspects quickly fled the scene in the silver Volvo, leaving the victims' Jeep untouched. Despite the violent nature of the incident, none of the victims were physically harmed.
Law enforcement is actively investigating the robbery and is working to track down the suspects. Surveillance footage from the casino and surrounding areas is being reviewed as authorities attempt to identify the individuals involved in the heist.