Harvard University Bomb Scare on Monday Was a Likely Hoax, Police Say

Four buildings at Harvard University were evacuated on Dec. 16 after unconfirmed reports that explosives had been placed near those buildings. (*Shutterstock)

The threat of explosives at Harvard University on Monday was a hoax, police said.

CNN reported that officials determined there was no threat and described the bomb scare as a hoax.

 There was some speculation among students on Twitter that the bomb threat was called in as an attempt to get final exams canceled.

Police gave the all clear after 11 a.m. local time.

 

Original story below:

Four buildings at Harvard University have been evacuated after “unconfirmed reports that explosives may have been placed in four buildings on campus,” the university announced. The statement said the evacuations are out of “an abundance of caution.” Harvard University Police in Cambridge, MA are on the scene investigating.

At 9:02 a.m., local time, the university released a brief statement: “Unconfirmed reports of explosives at four sites on campus: Science Center, Thayer, Sever, and Emerson. Please evacuate those buildings now.”

At 9:27 a.m., the university released an update via Twitter. "Alert: Reports of bombs placed on campus are unconfirmed. There have been NO reports of explosions. View for updates,” the alert reads.

The Science Center as well as Thayer, Sever and Emerson Halls were the four buildings in question. They were evacuated, and according to the Boston Globe, the Science Center was closed off.

The Harvard Crimson newspaper posted a photo to Twitter, showing throngs of students gathered in Annenberg Hall after the evacuation.

Some students’ final examinations were canceled as a result of the threat.

Check back for updates as the story develops.

Last month, Yale University in Connecticut--also an Ivy League school like Harvard--was placed on lockdown after an anonymous caller said his roommate was armed and was going to shoot people on campus. Officials were unable to locate a gunman.

In early November, Central Connecticut State University was placed on lockdown after people reported that they saw an armed man on campus. Police said the suspect in the case showed up on campus wearing a ninja-like Halloween costume, prompting a number of students to call 911.

(*Harvard gates image via Shutterstock)