Universities in Fargo and Texas evacuated after bomb threats

Students at North Dakota State University in Fargo and the University of Texas in Austin have been ordered to evacuate their respective campuses this morning because of bomb threats.

There was no indication that the two events were connected.

This alert was posted on NDSU’s website:

“NDSU is requiring all employees and students to leave campus by 10:15 a.m. This includes residence hall students, who, if necessary, should walk to locations off campus. This also includes the downtown buildings and agricultural facilities. NDSU received a bomb threat, prompting this evacuation. Updates will follow.”

The University of Texas has issued an alert on its website ordering an evacuation “due to threats on campus.”

The alert posted shortly before 10 a.m. Friday said people on campus should immediately evacuate all buildings and “get as far away as possible.”

University of Texas director of communications Rhonda Weldon said the university received a call about 8:35 a.m. from a man with a Middle Eastern accent claiming to be with al-Qaeda. The man said he had placed bombs all over the campus that would go off in 90 minutes.

Wheldon said all the buildings were evacuated at 9:50 a.m. as a precaution. She said no bombs have been found.

Check back for updates on this story.

The Associated Press and the Forum of Fargo, N.D., contributed to this report.