By Helen Turnbull
A fire alarm was activated at approximately midnight last night, Wednesday 18th February, during YOLO at Cardiff Students’ Union.
Staff were evacuated to Ruthin Gardens whilst students congregated outside the Centre for Student Life on Park Place.
The Cardiff Students’ Union released a statement on its website confirming that after checks by staff, the event was able to reopen and students were allowed back into the venue.
The statement notes: ‘Initial investigations indicate that the alarm was activated maliciously. We are currently reviewing CCTV and other information to identify the individual responsible’.
The Y Plas, Cardiff SU Instagram account echoed this sentiment in a post this morning, stating: ‘Deliberately triggering an alarm without cause is a criminal offence,
puts others at risk, and will not be tolerated’.
The post thanks students who responded calmly to the evacuation and added, ‘See you next Wednesday!’
Despite the Cardiff Students’ Union’s statement describing that ‘the building was immediately evacuated’, an anonymous staff member commented: ‘The alarm rang
at least four times before anyone thought about moving’.
The staff member also noted that when people began to leave the venue, some were running and screaming as they left.
Several students reported that the Students’ Union security staff struggled to clear the area outside the Centre for Student Life for further evacuation.
A student present in Y Plas when the fire alarm sounded described the alarm as ‘very faint at first and it blended in with the music, then it got louder.
It was quite a while until the staff got everyone out. No one knew what was going on.’
The Students’ Union is urging anyone to come forward if they have any information
to support the investigation, by emailing [email protected].