Police at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville have issued an alert regarding a possible ‘active shooter’ on campus today. The alert stemmed from reports of a firearm at Shannon Library; however, law enforcement later confirmed no signs of an attack.

Normal campus operations are now set to resume as authorities initiate an inquiry into the false alarm. Subsequently, the University of Virginia has given the ‘all clear’ following earlier concerns of a shooter on campus. The investigation into the erroneous report is ongoing as police found no indications of a threat or attack.

Charlottesville police and fire departments are aiding campus authorities in their investigations, as stated by Kyle Ervin, a spokesperson for the city of Charlottesville.

The safety protocol known as “run-hide-fight” or “run-hide-tell” is a guideline established to assist individuals in surviving active shooter or violent intruder situations in the US. Originating from the City of Houston in the early 2010s, this protocol has received endorsements from federal agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.

The University of Virginia confirmed that police remain present at Shannon Library, continuing their examination following the emergency alert that warned of an “active attacker” with a gun near the library.

While law enforcement has not discovered any active attacker, students and staff are urged to adhere to safety protocols. A recent update was issued at 3.41pm local time.

The UVA’s Department of Safety and Security issued the initial alert at approximately 3.05pm local time, cautioning about an “active attacker” in the vicinity of Shannon Library. Brian Coy, a university spokesperson, informed USA TODAY that there is currently no evidence of an attack, with investigations ongoing.

In Charlottesville, police disclosed that an ‘active attacker’ is at large in the vicinity of Shannon Library at the University of Virginia after reports of a gun in the area.