MTSU cancels classes today and tomorrow due to “credible threat”

Middle Tennessee State University cancelled classes for the rest of the week due to threats of a possible terrorist attack.

Wednesday afternoon several people, including campus police, received an e-mail threatening widespread destruction if classes were not cancelled.

Later that night a fire in a dorm’s common area forced students to evacuate the building.

Campus Police Chief Buddy Peaster says authorities haven’t connected the threatening e-mails and the fire. He says they’re erring on the side of caution since other schools have been criticized for not taking action when credible threats arise.

“We felt like it was very important for MTSU not to be in that category but for us to act and to act swiftly to safeguard the safety of everyone on campus.”

Peaster says the e-mails were either sent from or passed through a computer on campus. The FBI is involved with the investigation.

MTSU President Sidney McPhee sent this statement to students, faculty and staff at noon today:

A credible threat to the MTSU campus has been identified. As a result, classes have been canceled, effective as of noon today, for the remainder of the week.

Due to a series of threatening e-mails and suspicious fires, campus police, in cooperation with local and state law-enforcement agencies, are actively involved in an investigation.

During this time, security will increase on campus, but university offices will maintain normal business hours. Employees are encouraged to report any unusual or suspicious activity to MTSU police.

After the regularly scheduled fall break, classes will resume Wednesday, Oct. 15.

More information will be provided on the MTSU home page, www.mtsu.edu, as details become available.

For MTSU news and information, visit www.mtsunews.com.

Please be safe and look out for one another. And please report any suspicious behavior or activity to University Police at 898-2424.

Thank you.