Harvard reopens after bomb scare

Harvard University yesterday reopened four buildings at the heart of its centuries-old campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that had been evacuated earlier after reports that explosives had been planted on the premises.

The Ivy League university said on its online alert system that all four buildings — three classroom facilities and a dorm — had reopened following a sweep by local, state and federal law enforcement officials.

No explosions were reported and neither Harvard officials nor law enforcement reported finding explosive devices.

The evacuations resulted in the cancellation of final exams for some classes.

Institutions across the Boston area have been on an elevated state of alert since the Apr 15 bombing attack at the Boston Marathon that killed three people and injured 264.

The Harvard campus police, Cambridge Police and Massachusetts State Police, including the bomb squad, responded to the campus, where they set up yellow-taped perimeters around the evacuated buildings and directed students to move away.

During the search, university officials had closed Harvard Yard to outside pedestrians, allowing only people who held Harvard identification to enter.