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Harvard University evacuated amid explosives alert | Harvard University evacuated amid explosives alert |
(35 minutes later) | |
Harvard University in the US state of Massachusetts has evacuated its campus amid an "unconfirmed report" of explosives at four of its buildings. | Harvard University in the US state of Massachusetts has evacuated its campus amid an "unconfirmed report" of explosives at four of its buildings. |
The university's Twitter feed said there were no reports of an explosion and no indication that any bombs had been placed on campus. | The university's Twitter feed said there were no reports of an explosion and no indication that any bombs had been placed on campus. |
Authorities later reopened two of the four buildings. | |
Final exams, which were under way at the elite college, have been cancelled in the affected buildings. | Final exams, which were under way at the elite college, have been cancelled in the affected buildings. |
Harvard said in a statement: "The Harvard University Police Department this morning received an unconfirmed report that explosives may have been placed in four buildings on campus: the Science Center, Thayer, Sever and Emerson Halls." | Harvard said in a statement: "The Harvard University Police Department this morning received an unconfirmed report that explosives may have been placed in four buildings on campus: the Science Center, Thayer, Sever and Emerson Halls." |
Hoax? | |
The campus was being cleared "out of an abundance of caution", added Monday's statement. | The campus was being cleared "out of an abundance of caution", added Monday's statement. |
"There's a lot of helicopters about," Anna Fifield, a Harvard fellow, told the BBC. | "There's a lot of helicopters about," Anna Fifield, a Harvard fellow, told the BBC. |
She also said all gates into Harvard Yard had been closed following the threat, and "frustrated" students were requesting entrance to cordoned off areas. | She also said all gates into Harvard Yard had been closed following the threat, and "frustrated" students were requesting entrance to cordoned off areas. |
Amid an ongoing investigation, two law enforcement sources told CNN on Monday afternoon they believed the report of explosives to be a hoax. | Amid an ongoing investigation, two law enforcement sources told CNN on Monday afternoon they believed the report of explosives to be a hoax. |
As of Monday afternoon, Thayer and Emerson Halls were reopened to students. A search of two other buildings remained ongoing. | |
It is the latest security threat to a US school in recent months. | It is the latest security threat to a US school in recent months. |
In November, another Ivy League institution, Yale University in Connecticut, was locked down for nearly six hours following a report of an armed man, which was later found to be a hoax. | In November, another Ivy League institution, Yale University in Connecticut, was locked down for nearly six hours following a report of an armed man, which was later found to be a hoax. |
In February, a gunman was reported on the campus of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That alarm, too, later proved false. | In February, a gunman was reported on the campus of the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That alarm, too, later proved false. |
Amid the ongoing threat of mass shootings at US schools, such alerts are an almost daily occurrence, though most turn out to be nothing. | Amid the ongoing threat of mass shootings at US schools, such alerts are an almost daily occurrence, though most turn out to be nothing. |
A BBC investigation found that, just in the month between 9 November and 9 December, US schools or college campuses were placed on "lockdown" on at least 130 occasions. | A BBC investigation found that, just in the month between 9 November and 9 December, US schools or college campuses were placed on "lockdown" on at least 130 occasions. |