University of Texas-Austin campus reopens after bomb threats that cancelled classes

By: Casey Glynn
Topics: Daily Blotter

People evacuating the campus of the University of Texas, Austin on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012

/ KEYE

(CBS/AP) AUSTIN, Texas - Students and faculty of the University of Texas at Austin are being allowed back into school buildings after a bomb threat this morning sent thousands of people streaming off campus as administrators warned students and faculty to "get as far away as possible."

According to the UT website, all university activities are expected to resume at 5 p.m. except for classes on the main campus, which are cancelled for the remainder of Friday.

University of Texas spokeswoman Rhonda Weldon said the university received a call about 8:35 a.m. from a man with a Middle Eastern accent claiming to be with al-Qaida. The man said he had placed bombs all over the campus that would go off in 90 minutes.

All buildings were evacuated at 9:50 a.m. as a precaution, Weldon said.

Most students appeared to be leaving campus in an orderly and calm manner. Police blocked off roads to the 50,000-student campus as lines and lines of cars sat in gridlock trying to get out.

By 10:30 a.m., the university issued another advisory saying that buildings were still being checked and that no decision had been made on whether the campus would reopen for afternoon classes.

"We're extremely confident that the campus is safe," UT President Bill Powers announced at a noon press conference, The Austin American-Statesman reports. He said they were allowing people into university buildings.

North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., also ordered a campus evacuation after a bomb threat Friday morning. But it was unclear whether the two threats were related.

More on Crimesider
September 14, 2012 - Univ. of Texas-Austin, North Dakota State campus evacuated after schools receive bomb threats

Add A Comment +