by Palatinate News

This afternoon the Durham police were called to University College and the DSU to respond to a possible bomb threat.

After searching both premises, the police confirmed that the report is being treated as a hoax. Students and staff were then allowed back into the buildings, although Castle students will still have to dine in Hatfield College this evening.

Hours earlier, students and staff had been evacuated as a precaution, while police followed up the claim.

A source from the DSU revealed that an email had been sent to the University and DSU earlier, suggesting that was a bomb on the premises. This prompted the police and the University to take emergency action.

A spokesperson said: “We were called to Durham University this afternoon after a report of a bomb threat at the Students Union and the Great Hall. The buildings were evacuated to facilitate a search but nothing untoward was found. We are now investigating a suspected hoax”.

The University’s Oriental Museum was also closed temporarily on the advice of the police.

Two residential halls at Bristol University, Wills and Durdham, were also evacuated today due to a bomb threat, although currently nothing is known as to whether the two incidents were connected.

A Castle first year said: “At a stressful time, this event was incredibly inconvenient, however, the evacuation and return to college was prompt”.