Four Harvard University buildings evacuated after bomb threat

At 7pm GMT, the university said nothing had been found to substantiate the emailed bomb threat

Four buildings in Harvard's central campus were evacuated after the bomb threat (Darren McCollester/Newsmakers)

A number of buildings at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts have been evacuated due to a bomb threat.

The prestigious university's Science Centre, the Thayer halls of residence and the Sever and Emerson teaching buildings began to be evacuated at around 5:20pm GMT, shortly after the unconfirmed bomb threat was received via email.

Evacuation was completed around 20 minutes later, and police arrived on the scene to investigate.

Currently, the four building are being searched, a process which Harvard says "will likely take several hours". Access to Harvard Yard, the central area of the university campus, has been restricted as the searches are underway.

Harvard has said that so far, nothing has been found to substantiate the bomb threat.

In a statement, the university said: "In the wake of recent tragic events in locations ranging from Paris to Beirut and beyond, we understand that this type of threat will cause great anxiety for many across our campuses."

"We will continue to be vigilant as we carry on Harvard’s mission of expanding and disseminating knowledge."

According to students at the scene, helicopters are circling overhead and there is a large emergency services presence at the campus.

The bomb threat comes two days after a group of gunmen made a number of attacks in the centre of Paris, killing 129 people and injuring many more.

More to follow.