A bomb squad was called to the Tempe campus to handle a possible explosive item in the A Wing of the Engineering Center Tuesday afternoon, police said.
A professor going on sabbatical found a can that may contain explosive material while cleaning out her office with her husband, said Sgt. Jim Hardina of the ASU Department of Public Safety.
"They grabbed this can; it was old and rusted," Hardina said. "She collects that kind of stuff."
Hardina said the professor's husband saw the word "blasting" printed on the can and thought the can could include blasting caps.
Blasting caps are used to detonate explosives.
"It's the charge that sets off the explosion," Hardina said.
He added caps could potentially cause injury on their own, so the husband put down the can and called police.
ASU police and Tempe fire personnel responded to the building and called in the Tempe Police Department bomb squad.
Tempe Sgt. Dan Masters, a police spokesman, said the bomb squad would interview witnesses and decide how to remove the can from the building.
