Harvard on alert after emailed death threat sent to hundreds

Police increased their presence on the Harvard University campus Saturday after hundreds of students and affiliates received an email that included a threat to shoot and kill people on campus Saturday morning.Watch NewsCenter 5's reportStudents on campus said that the email stated that the person who wrote it would come to Harvard Saturday to "shoot all of you" and "kill you individually.""It's certainly very striking because it was very specific," Leesa Quinlan said. "She said, 'Tomorrow at 11 (a.m.) I'm going to come shoot all of you.'"Students said the email was addressed to about 500 people, many with Asian surnames and police are taking the threat seriously."Initial findings from HUPD's investigation of the threat emailed last night to hundreds of Harvard affiliates, while not complete, seem to indicate that the email originated overseas," Harvard University police said in a statement. "As a result, it appears at this time that the threat may not be credible."The email also threatened the life of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who attended Harvard.The university made no changes to planned activities for the weekend.Cambridge police as well as the FBI were notified of the threat.Officials said that though they can't verify it is a real threat, every member of the Harvard University community is being asked to become familiar with the Harvard University Police Department's Active Shooter Safety Guidelines based on the Department of Homeland Security's recommendations.

Police increased their presence on the Harvard University campus Saturday after hundreds of students and affiliates received an email that included a threat to shoot and kill people on campus Saturday morning.

Watch NewsCenter 5's report


Students on campus said that the email stated that the person who wrote it would come to Harvard Saturday to "shoot all of you" and "kill you individually."

"It's certainly very striking because it was very specific," Leesa Quinlan said. "She said, 'Tomorrow at 11 (a.m.) I'm going to come shoot all of you.'"

Students said the email was addressed to about 500 people, many with Asian surnames and police are taking the threat seriously.

"Initial findings from HUPD's investigation of the threat emailed last night to hundreds of Harvard affiliates, while not complete, seem to indicate that the email originated overseas," Harvard University police said in a statement. "As a result, it appears at this time that the threat may not be credible."

The email also threatened the life of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who attended Harvard.

The university made no changes to planned activities for the weekend.

Cambridge police as well as the FBI were notified of the threat.

Officials said that though they can't verify it is a real threat, every member of the Harvard University community is being asked to become familiar with the Harvard University Police Department's Active Shooter Safety Guidelines based on the Department of Homeland Security's recommendations.