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Harvard University evacuated amid explosives alert Harvard University all clear after evacuation
(about 1 hour later)
Harvard University in the US state of Massachusetts has evacuated its campus amid an "unconfirmed report" of explosives at four of its buildings. Students are returning to Harvard University after part of its campus was cleared amid a report of explosives.
The university's Twitter feed said there were no reports of an explosion and no indication that any bombs had been placed on campus. Students were told evacuate two dorms, a classroom building and science centre at 09:00 local (14:00 GMT) at the elite college in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Authorities later reopened two of the four buildings. All have now been reopened after the university said it had found no explosives.
Final exams, which were under way at the elite college, have been cancelled in the affected buildings. Final exams, which had been under way at the elite college, were 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 earlier 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?Hoax?
The campus was being cleared "out of an abundance of caution", added Monday's statement. The campus was 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. 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.