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University of Delaware officials said three apparent "nooses" found hanging outside a campus performance hall Tuesday night were not "instruments of a hate crime," but harmless remnants of lanterns used during a campus event.

The discovery set off a police investigation into what was initially believed to be a hate crime and swift reaction from University of Delaware President Nancy Targett

Nooses found hanging outside Mitchell Hall on the University of Delaware campus are being investigated as a hate crime. Matt Butler / The Review

“We are both saddened and disturbed that this deplorable act has taken place on our campus," Targett said in a statement on Facebook Tuesday night.

Targett issued an updated statement to students Wednesday:

"Thanks to tips from students who responded to our earlier call for information and the investigative work of University of Delaware Police, it has been determined that the three noose-like items found outside Mitchell Hall were not instruments of a hate crime, but the remnants of paper lanterns from an event previously held on The Green," Targett said.

It was not a hate crime–however, I believe it's still a time for dialogue. Meet me on the Green 4:30pm http://t.co/a7bVvItdQ2 #VoicesofUDel — Nancy Targett (@NancyMTargett) September 23, 2015

The "noose" incident was first believed to be a racist reaction to a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest on Monday of a speech by Fox News commentator and author Katie Pavlich, who has criticized the Black Lives Matter movement.