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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Thousands of staff members at the Department of Veterans Affairs were put on alert after an active shooter email was sent out in error.

According to a spokesperson with the department, the Hampton VA Medical Center was preparing for a training exercise when it accidentally sent out an email issuing a CODE SILVER, which is the signal for an active shooter situation.

The message was sent to more than 23,000 staff members including their local emergency response units just after 10 a.m. Tuesday.

WREG has confirmed the Memphis VA received the same alert.

“At no time was there an active threat of any type on the VA campus or in any of its buildings,” the Department of Veterans Affairs said in a statement sent to the station. “A follow up message was released to staff internally which notified them to disregard the earlier message as it was sent in error and the emergency communications systems also followed up with a message to disregard the earlier erroneous “CODE SILVER” as well.”

A review is underway to determine the cause of the activation and how to prevent it from happening in the future.

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