District 65 school officials say Nichols Middle School is closed today due to what the districts’ website describes as “an unforeseen police emergency.”
A caller to Evanston Now reports a heavy police presence in the area around the school this morning.
Police reportedly are evacuating buildings along Sherman Avenue near the school.
More details as they become available.
Update at 9:36 a.m.:
Police report that the body of a man was found in the park near Nichols Middle School about dawn this morning, about two hours after residents nearby heard what they described as a loud explosion. A Cook County Bomb Squad Unit is on the scene attempting to defuse a number of potentially explosive devices found near the body in Fitzsimons Park just south of the school. One controlled explosion was heard by observers at the scene a short while ago, but the squad is still working.
Nichols Middle School is closed today and the neighboring streets are closed to traffic.
Update at 1:01 p.m.:
Later stories with more details ….