Otago Polytechnic evacuated over bomb threat
by Tim Scott · Otago Daily Times Online NewsThe Otago Polytechnic has been evacuated and will be closed for the rest of the day following a bomb threat.
In a statement, Otago Polytechnic chief executive Andrew McSweeney said this afternoon it was made aware "of a potential security threat affecting our campus premises".
"We became aware this morning of a brief email which made a bomb threat relating to our facility.
"This message was sent to a department group email address at Otago Polytechnic."
The threat did not specify a location. Both Cromwell and Wānaka campuses have been closed, alongside the Dunedin one.
Police were notified and were providing advice to the Polytechnic’s leadership team.
It was understood a similar threat was also sent to some other educational institutions in New Zealand and these were also being investigated by police, Mr McSweeney said.
The polytechnic sent an email and text message to all students and staff at about noon, instructing them to leave campus buildings promptly and calmly.
"We are locking down all campus buildings as people are evacuated and have implemented a walk-around campus to check for any people who didn’t receive the notifications.
"We expect the Dunedin and Central [Otago] campuses will remain closed for the rest of the day."
These measures were being taken as a precaution as the safety of students and staff was an absolute priority.
They would be notified when the campuses reopened.
Caregivers at the polytechnic’s student residential village Te Pā Tauira had also been contacted, Mr McSweeney said.
The Hub building on Forth St is empty, with no crowds loitering.
Several Otago polytech students, who declined to be named, said it was unsettling to receive the text message.
The mass exodus caused a minor traffic jam in Anzac Ave, as cars all tried to leave the area.
A University of Otago spokesperson said they were not impacted by the threat.
The spokesperson said they had not received the email in question "to the best of our knowledge".
Police have been approached for comment.