Bomb threat and shooting warning cause Usach campus evacuation

The University of Santiago, Chile (Usach) experienced a major disruption Thursday afternoon as a bomb threat and a warning of a mass shooting prompted a complete evacuation of its campus. The incident triggered a large-scale police operation, involving students and faculty being ordered to leave the premises.

The threats were reportedly received through social media and an email, which alleged the placement of explosive devices across various campus locations and mentioned the possibility of a shooting. In response to the high alert, Carabineros' Special Operations Police Group (GOPE) was deployed to the scene to conduct a "preventive review procedure."

To facilitate the specialized units' work and ensure the safety of the university community, the Usach administration suspended all activities and requested an immediate and orderly departure from the campus. Carlos Yévenes, the pro-rector, emphasized the urgency of the measure in a statement, citing the need to protect the security and well-being of everyone on site.

Despite the initial fear caused by the threats, preliminary reports from the police indicate that no suspicious objects have been discovered on the campus thus far. The GOPE continues to collaborate with campus security in the ongoing review.

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As a protective measure and with the purpose of protecting the safety and well-being of our university community, we request to evacuate the campus immediately, in an orderly and calm manner, following at all times the instructions of institutional security personnel and the teams deployed for this procedure.