The message came through loud and clear in College Park last night: Osama bin Laden, the most hunted man in the world, is dead.

Bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader who many credit with being the mastermind behind the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks — the most devastating ever on American soil — was killed in a firefight with U.S. forces in Pakistan, President Barack Obama confirmed last night. The historic moment was marked by celebrations in front of the White House, fireworks in cities across the country and displays of patriotism and chaos that engulfed hundreds of university students in downtown College Park and on the campus this morning.

One arrest and a small fire were the only blights on a night of celebration, police said, noting most students were responsible and well-behaved.

The student who was arrested after police said he was seen “damaging one of the Maryland Day tents” was charged with disorderly conduct, after he ignored police officers’ orders to leave the tent alone. The young man was handcuffed and led away by two officers, while several other uniformed officers attempted to put out a fire.

“The fire was unfortunate and very disappointing,” University Police spokesman Capt. Marc Limansky said.

Television cameras began to roll as students gathered around the fire, chanting and waving their flags. The blaze lasted for about 10 minutes.

“This is an absolute mad house,” junior geography major Alex Elkin said. “I’ve never seen anything like this on campus before, I didn’t expect them to start a fire; it’s crazy.”

Limansky said no property was damaged in the fracas. Police and firefighters put out the flames, which were contained to the cement area near the sundial.

“For really no one to be injured and nothing to be damaged, the students behaved incredibly well,” he said. “We didn’t have to force anybody to go home against their will. … I was relieved that our studends did not let the situation get out of hand.”

It all began around midnight, as Obama’s speech ended, and students began to pour onto Route 1 from dorms, fraternity and sorority houses, apartment buildings and Knox Boxes holding flags and wearing red, white and blue. For more than three hours, students chanted, sang and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to celebrate what many described as their “proudest moment” as Americans.

By 1 a.m. University Police had blocked off both of Route 1’s northbound lanes and one southbound lane to make room for the hundreds of people congregated between Knox Road and Rossborough Drive. About nine police officers stood outside cars with lights flashing “monitoring” throughout, Limansky said.

“It’s a dynamic situation,” he said. “We’re just sort of monitoring them, making sure they’re not doing anything dangerous.”

Some made mention of how the mob resembled that of last year’s post-Duke men’s basketball game riot, but initially, most students and police officials said the mood was too celebratory to sour.

Several students said one University Police officer took their flag and stood in the middle of Route 1 waving it and shouting “God bless America!” Many said it was refreshing to see police officers showing the same pride they felt.

“It’s really awesome to see everyone come together,” freshman engineering major Nicholas Caviglia said. “It’s really good to see America’s patriotism come out again.”

But jubilation devolved into mayhem as police attempted to corral students out of the streets and back onto the campus at about 1:45 a.m. After minutes of retreat, students rushed the road once more. Some said a shirtless student was led away by police officers near Ratsie’s Pizza & Subs at about 2 a.m., but police officials said no arrests were made downtown.

“It seems well-intentioned so far,” on-scene University Police Police Officer John Campbell said at about 1:30 a.m. “We’re trying to keep it so that nobody gets hurt.”

By about 2:15 a.m., students stopped fighting police to crowd the streets and instead headed for McKeldin Mall, where dozens jumped into the Omicron Delta Kappa fountain and several started a fire with the hay bales left over from Saturday’s Maryland Day festivities.

“It’s flippin’ awesome,” freshman letters and sciences major Richard Lee said of the fire after police had extinguished it. “Like when we beat Duke … it’s great. Our riots are great. But this is, like, for a better cause. And no one’s getting super violent.”

In the downtown bars, Cornerstone Grill and Loft and R.J. Bentley’s, the scene was quieter as students watched replays and coverage of Obama’s address, in which he declared “justice has been done” and encouraged Americans to join together.

“Tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11,” the president said in his televised speech from the White House. “Today’s acheivement is a testament to the greatness of our country.”

Students took this sentiment literally as they hoisted each other into the air, carried one another around, displayed flags, sported face and chest paint with the letters “USA,” waved pom-poms, played vuvuzelas, smoked “victory cigars” and blared noise makers into the brisk night.

Senior environmental science and policy major Camden Waydes and junior government and politics major Grayson Harwood stood outside of Sigma Chi’s fraternity house for hours waving an American flag. The pair said they were the first two students on Route 1.

“When I heard Osama was dead, I screamed, I clapped and I f—ing grabbed this flag and ran out here,” Waydes said. “I feel the most American ever — that’s the only way I can describe this feeling.”

Sophomore biology major Zach Butt held a speaker to show he’s a “patriotic American.” Students sang along to Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA,” Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA,” Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust,” and Steam’s “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.”

“My first reaction was to celebrate,” junior communication and history major Christopher Howie said, “immediately celebrate.”

For two in the crowd, Mark Gyorfy and Philip Goglas, the night brought news they had been waiting to hear for nearly a decade. They are volunteer firefighters that knew some of the hundreds of emergency workers who responded to the twin towers in New York on Sept. 11, 2001.

Goglas said because of this, the terrorist attack that killed about 3,000 American civilians is personal.

“Being from New York and being a firefighter from New York … when I first heard the news I almost started to cry” said Goglas, who is a student at this university. “For me, it brings a sense of closure; we finally got the man responsible.”

“It’s been too long,” Gyorfy added. “I’m happy we finally got [bin Laden].”

Senior staff writers Charles DeBoyace, Adele Hampton, Lauren Hicks, Spencer Israel, Lauren Kirkwood, Sarah Meehan, Kate Raftery and Rachel Roubein contributed to this report.  mlang at umdbk dot com