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AN active shooter alert has been issued at a college campus in Tennessee on Thursday afternoon.
Authorities rushed to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga after receiving reports of shots fired at around 12:40 pm.
The lockdown orders were lifted at around 1:40 pm after law enforcement officials found no threat.
The alert to students and faculty read, “Possible active shooter in the University Center or Library. Run. Hide. Fight. More info forthcoming.”
Chattanooga police said they were working with the campus’ police department to determine whether any gunshots were fired on the campus.
The school was placed on lockdown as authorities investigated the scene.
UTC said its campus facilities were being searched by authorities.
“Do not move unless directed by law enforcement,” the university’s message read.
Photos from the scene showed multiple police agencies at the campus as students were seen evacuating the facilities.
According to ABC affiliate WSYR, students leaving the library were met by heavily armed police officers who informed them, “This is not a drill,” as they were escorted out.
At 1:40 pm, UTC said authorities were completing a search of the campus and had not found a threat.
The FBI’s field office in Nashville said it was aware of the situation at UTC.
“Our agents are responding and supporting our local law enforcement partners,” the federal agency said in a statement.
In an alert sent out at around 1:53 pm, UTC lifted the lockdown orders and confirmed law enforcement found no evidence of a threat.
All classes and activities were canceled for the day.
BOMB SCARE
The active shooter alert was the second threat involving schools in the Tennessee area.
The University School of Nashville received a bomb threat on Thursday morning as students were making their way to their morning classes.
The school was evacuated before police eventually cleared the facilities.
Nashville Metro Police deemed the bomb threat a spoof.
Authorities said there was a bomb threat email sent to multiple independent schools across the country on Thursday.
