A photo of the Texas A&M evacuation during a bomb threat on Oct. 19, 2012. (Photo from M'Lissa Kiel via Twitter)Courtesy ABC affiliate KRHD
COLLEGE STATION -
Texas A&M University officials said they have received
an email at 11 a.m. Friday about a campus-wide bomb threat. The
university started evacuating all students, faculty and staff at 11:30 a.m.
The evacuation order was posted on the university's
website as a "Code Maroon'' warning. It directs those on campus to evacuate by
foot immediately and to not use a vehicle. People on campus were directed to
evacuate towards Northgate and Consolidated Middle School depending on their
position on campus.
Texas A&M has said that about 50,000 students, faculty
and staff have left campus, and were instructed by the university to take their
time, don't return to campus, and let their family know they are okay.
The school says all classes were cancelled and the
evacuation will remain in effect until further notice.
3:29 p.m. UPDATE: Authorities are still searching the
buildings on campus, with the dorms being a high priority. The Texas A&M
University Methodist Church on Northgate is being used as a safe house for
students who have no place to go.
4:11 p.m. UPDATE: Texas A&M has reopened its campus.
Un-cleared buildings are still closed. The university says they are confident
that event venues are safe.
