Hours before graduation, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar has evacuated its building after receiving a bomb threat. Here’s the latest.
UPDATE | 1:52pm
According to CMU-Q, the threat turned out to be a hoax and the building is now safe to re-enter:
Update on the bomb threat at CMUQ, the building has been inspected and the authorities have indicated that the building is safe to re-enter
— CarnegieMellonQatar (@CarnegieMellonQ)
UPDATE | 1:04pm
Robert Vance, who heads crisis management at NU-Q, told Doha News that a bomb threat on campus usually takes three to four hours to clear.
Responding to rumors that the threat originated from CMU-Q’s home campus in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, a QF spokesman confirmed the incident only involves its Qatar branch.
UPDATE | 12:54pm
According to CMU-Q, Civil Defense officials are onsite to investigate the threat:
Due to a security alert at CMU-Q, students and staff are instructed to avoid the area. CMU-Q has been evacuated, Civil Defence on site.
— CarnegieMellonQatar (@CarnegieMellonQ)
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In a statement sent to Doha News, Qatar Foundation said:
Following reports of a security alert at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), both CMU-Q and Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) campuses have been evacuated.
All students and staff have been instructed to assemble at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) or the HBKU Student Center. Other staff and students are instructed to avoid the immediate area until further notice.
Bomb threats are not uncommon in Education City, where schools have been evacuated more than once over such hoaxes, particularly around finals time.
This is graduation week for many Education City universities, including CMU-Q, which will hold its commencement tonight at the Qatar National Convention Center. NU-Q, which is housed in the same building, held its ceremonies last night.
Thoughts?
Credit: Photos by Penny Yi Wang
