Campus of Cornell University in New York evacuated over bomb scare

A reported bomb threat triggered an evacuation and lockdown at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. However, a police search has turned up nothing.

In a statement on Sunday afternoon, Cornell University reported that police were investigating a bomb threat on campus grounds. 

“Ithaca Campus Law enforcement is on site and investigating campus bomb threat. Security perimeter is in place. Continue to avoid central campus,” the school tweeted.

A caller who phoned the police reportedly claimed that multiple bombs had been planted in various locations on the campus, including in the Law School, Goldwin Smith, Upson Hall, and Kennedy Hall.

The buildings were subsequently evacuated, with students and staff urged to stay clear of the area.

A video showed students fleeing the school’s library as part of the evacuation effort.

In an update on Sunday evening, the university said that police gave the all clear. “Law enforcement has concluded search of the Ithaca campus; no credible threats were found,” the school said.

Founded in 1865, Cornell University ranks among the top US universities. Its campus in Ithaca sprawls across an area of 745 acres, and features over 1,000 student organizations. It is one of the few private schools that is also a land-grant university of New York.

The incident comes just two days after a bomb scare caused the partial evacuation of the Yale University campus in Connecticut. Reports of multiple bombs in campus buildings turned out to be a false alarm. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security, responded to the incident.

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