Texas University Bomb Threat Forces Second Evacuation In As Many Months
Austin, TX – A bomb threat at Texas State University resulted in an evacuation of the university’s admissions building early Thursday morning.
The latest Texas bomb threat is the second in as many months. It comes five weeks after the State University was forced to evacuate its entire main campus following a threat delivered by a man who claimed to be a member of al-Qaeda.
Thursday’s threat was confirmed by State University officials, who revealed the latest Texas bomb threat was received at the San Marcos campus via email at about 7:20 am. University spokesman Jayme Blaschke said the email was forwarded to university police by 8:50 am. The university’s emergency alert system released a text saying:
“Bomb threat at Admissions building. Avoid area around building. Admissions occupants go to a safe area.”
Eventually, an 800-foot radius around the university’s admissions building was evacuated while a bomb squad from Austin was rapidly dispatched to investigate and university police consulted with the FBI.
No suspects have been identified in the latest Texas bomb threat, but university spokesman Jayme Blaschke told The Statesman that university police were pursuing several leads.
The emailed threat was received by an admissions counselor working from her home in the Houston area. Texas State has a number of admissions counselors who work off-campus in assorted locations in the state.
Officials have yet to confirm whether the Texas bomb threat included a motive, but it seems calm was soon restored. Late Thursday morning, the university tweeted:
TXState Alert – EMERGENCY ENDED… All halls and building are open except Admissions.All classes will be held as normal. See…
— TX State University (@txst) October 18, 2012
