Princeton University Bomb Threat Forces 7,000 People to Evacuate Campus (VIDEO)
ByPrinceton University was evacuated Tuesday after a bomb threat was called in around 9 a.m., reported ABC News.
Martin Mbuaga, university spokesman, said the caller threatened numerous and unspecified buildings on campus. After the evacuation, police found a suspicious package on campus and are currently trying to determine what it is.
"This is NOT a test. There has been a bomb threat to multiple unspecified campus buildings. Please evacuate the campus and all University offices immediately and go home unless otherwise directed by your supervisor," the alert read.
According to a statement posted to the school's website, police are covering the campus and its buildings with bomb-sniffing dogs. The search could take several hours.
Students, faculty and staff were directed to leave the campus and go home immediately. The Nassau Inn, the Princeton Public Library and the Princeton Arts Council building in the local town were all open to anyone who did not have means of transportation.
Despite the information on the school's release, at least one student said there was confusion among others about where to go.
"After my roommate and I got the warning, we didn't know where to go. Which direction should we go?" Jimin Hong told the Daily Princetonian. "My roommate told me to call Public Safety and ask them. This guy answered -- no help. He said, 'I don't know, ma'am' and it kind of pissed me off."
The university shut down its operations for the day except for the school's Department of Public Safety. The school also announced that the campus police were investigating with local, state and federal law enforcement.
At 2:30 p.m. the university did not have a timetable for when the campus could be declared safe. The release only stated that authorities and bomb-sniffing dogs had been searching for several hours and would be for several hours more.
Princeton University's public release encouraged community members to check their webpage every half hour for developments in the story.