Update Sunday evening at 8:30 p.m.
A&M Vice President for Marketing and Communications Jason Cook sent the following message Sunday evening: “Classes at Texas A&M University will resume on Monday, and all campus operations will resume as scheduled. The investigation into last Friday’s bomb threat is ongoing by law enforcement personnel.”
Recap from Friday at 5:00 p.m.
There are over 800 buildings on the campus of Texas A&M University campus. A bomb threat e-mailed Friday morning at 11 to the computer information systems department resulted in a campus-wide evacuation estimated at 60,000, followed by an inspection that continued the rest of the day.
Also closed were Easterwood Airport and the George Bush Presidential Library.
Friday at 4 p.m. officials reopened the campus to allow students, faculty and staff to retrieve personal items and vehicles. That was after clearing high traffic areas, including the residence halls, Memorial Student Center, Reed Arena, and Kyle Field.
Lt. Allan Baron of the University Police Department says the e-mail did not reveal a specific location. What was contained in the e-mail was not disclosed.
A&M’s Code Maroon alert system directed those on-campus…50,000 students and 10,000 employees…to leave on foot. Baron says it made for a quicker evacuation compared to students and employees walking a long distance to their vehicles. And it reduced traffic congestion already present due to those on campus for weekend events.
Baron says the investigation will include looking into a possible connection with a bomb threat e-mailed earlier in the week at Texas State University in San Marcos.
Baron says those with any information are asked to contact authorities.
Lt. Allan Baron answers questions during the Friday’s final media update.
Friday evening, statements were released from A&M President Bowen Loftin and A&M System Chancellor John Sharp.
President Loftin wrote: “We take the safety of our campus community very seriously at Texas A&M University. When the initial threat of an explosive device was received shortly after 11 a.m. today, we took quick action and ordered the evacuation of the entire campus, which includes 50,000 students and another 10,000 faculty and staff. Let me assure you this was no small undertaking. I appreciate Aggies heeding our Code Maroon messages and evacuating the campus in a safe and orderly fashion, as well as the outstanding work of hundreds of law enforcement, emergency and other support personnel.
While the university remains closed for normal operations, we have every reason to believe that the campus is safe for events tonight and on Saturday. High-threat areas and facilities have been cleared by law enforcement personnel, to include our residence halls, dining facilities, parking facilities, the Memorial Student Center, Kyle Field, Reed Arena and the soccer complex. We are continuing to diligently search other buildings on campus and expect for this effort to continue over the weekend.
We will not tolerate anonymous threats of this kind – an unwarranted action that significantly impacted the teaching and research activities on our campus today, as well as the disruption of thousands of visitors to Texas A&M. We will work with law enforcement personnel to aggressively continue our investigation, and pursue and prosecute the perpetrator(s) of this senseless crime.”
Chancellor Sharp wrote: “We are proud of the way university police and leadership handled the safety of not only our students, faculty and staff, but also those arriving on campus for this weekend’s activities. Our officials responded quickly and efficiently, and we are immensely grateful the threat appears to be false.”
4:10 p.m. update from A&M:
While Texas A&M University remains closed for normal operations, students, faculty and staff will be allowed back on campus to retrieve their personal items and vehicles starting at 4 pm. It has been five hours since the initial threat was received, and the investigation is still ongoing. Other areas are still being searched. The high traffic areas including the residence halls, MSC, Reed Arena, Kyle Field have been cleared. All essential personnel and those involved in this evening’s activities need to report as scheduled. If employees have any questions, they should contact their supervisor for further instructions.
Transportation Services has resumed regularly scheduled transit service from the MSC and Trigon for both on and off-campus routes.
4:00 p.m. update:
According to A&M Code Maroon: “Campus is reopened. Uncleared bldgs still closed. We’re confident event venues are safe.”
3:30 p.m. update:
Events planned for campus this evening have not been cancelled. Facilities being searched to insure safety for those events.
Students and employees are being asked to contact out of town family members to let them know they’re OK.
DPS troopers had blocked some major intersections surrounding campus.
A&M University Police Lt. Allan Baron answering questions from media.
3:30 p.m. update from WTAW’s Kevin O’Connor.
Update with comments from an A&M media briefing that began at 1:45 p.m.
Tailgaters are being “asked to leave” campus.
No word on a deadline to decide if the football game will be postponed.
A bomb squad is on campus.
Plans for students that live on campus are still pending.
Original story:
The Texas A&M University campus received a bomb threat Friday morning. University Police Lt. Allan Baron says an e-mail was received in the computing information systems office. That led to the initial Code Maroon alert at 11:33 a.m.
Lt. Allan Baron visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver (on air at 12:34 p.m.)
Easterwood Airport has been closed until further notice due to the bomb threat, according to Director of Aviation John Happ.
Code Maroon update 12:37 p.m. that all activities on the A&M campus have been cancelled until further notice.
A&M Transportation Services has adjusted bus routes due to the bomb threat. Click HERE to be directed to their website.
According to the Code Maroon alert system at Texas A&M University: Bomb threat received for campus in general. Evacuate campus by foot immediately. Do not use a vehicle.
Code Maroon now reports classes are cancelled and instructions are given to to those on the main campus to proceed north to Church Street or south to Anderson Street.
The latest information will be posted on the A&M website emergency page. Click HERE to be directed there.