Harvard University evacuates over explosives report

Harvard University ordered an immediate evacuation on Monday over reports of possible explosives at four sites on the campus of the elite university in the northeastern United States.

An alert on its website announced the evacuations at the Science Center, the Thayer dormitory, the Sever classroom and lecture hall and the Emerson building, home to the philosophy department.

"Please evacuate those buildings now," it said.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the buildings have been evacuated while the report is investigated. Harvard's focus is on the safety of our students, faculty and staff," it added.

Harvard University and Cambridge police were on the scene and investigating, the university said on its website.

Harvard, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, dominates the Massachusetts town of Cambridge near Boston.

Harvard's Science Center is home to the mathematics, statistics and history of science departments. The university is currently in session, going into recess on December 21.

The incident comes less than a month after Harvard's great rival Yale went on a four-hour lockdown after an anonymous caller said his roommate was planning to shoot people on the campus.

Teams of police scoured the sprawling Yale campus in New Haven, Connecticut but there were never any reports of shots fired nor of any injuries. Nor was the presumed gunman found.

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