UC Berkeley threat: Shelter-in-place order lifted on Cal campus after person threatens to ‘harm’ individuals

BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) — A shelter-in-place order has been lifted by Berkeley police after a person threatened to “harm” individuals on Cal’s campus prompting a massive search for the suspect on Thursday, according to authorities.

Police say buildings will remain locked and everyone is being asked to safely leave campus for the remainder of the day. In-person classes remain canceled for Thursday.

UC Berkeley officials sent an email explaining that the lockdown was due to an emerging active shooter threat related to a student who had been placed on interim suspension for threatening behavior.

UC Berkeley police clarified in a tweet, “There is NOT an active shooter on campus. Police are actively looking for a person who may want to harm specific individuals. Please continue to shelter in place at this time.”

A UC Berkeley spokesperson said, “For the time being, all I can say is that there is a police investigation into a possible threat and that everyone on campus has been asked to shelter in place. In addition, those not on campus are being urged to stay away.”

A warning message informed students that all campus services such as libraries, dining and parking garages are closed until further notice, and in-person classes are canceled through the remainder of the day.

Some neighboring schools also closed their gates.

Berkeley Unified School District said it had placed six schools on a “soft lockdown” out of an abundance of caution, because of their proximity to the college campus. A soft lockdown means that all gates and doors to a school are locked but students can move around freely inside school buildings, said Trish McDermott, spokeswoman for Berkeley Unified.

A class of second graders on a field trip to the university campus when the lockdown was issued were sheltering in place, McDermott said.

“They are safe and fine and we’ve reached out to parents and caregivers,” she said.

Stay with ABC7 News for updates on this developing story.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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