The Daily News Journal

MURFREESBORO – About 8 a.m. Tuesday, MTSU Police were notified that there was a suspicious bucket found on a sidewalk in the courtyard area near the Business and Aerospace Building, according to a university news release. By 11:50 a.m., a notice was released from the university saying the incident was "determined to be a student prank."

The white plastic two-gallon bucket had a message written on it that indicated it may contain a hazardous material and should not be opened, the original release from MTSU said. University officials confirmed the message referenced the Ebola virus.

The bucket contained a "liquid that was determined not to be hazardous by emergency crews," MTSU spokesman Andrew Oppmann said in an email to The Daily News Journal.

Police had cordoned off the area and contacted Murfreesboro Fire Department and the university's Environmental Health and Safety personnel, who responded to the scene, the release said.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Murfreesboro Fire Department's hazardous material team also was called to the scene along with the Tennessee Highway Patrol bomb disposal unit as well as the FBI, the release said.

The area was cordoned off but is now open to students and university staff.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact university police at 615-898-2424.