Police Swarm University of Maryland After Phony Hostage Report

A prankster who called in a phony hostage incident at the University of Maryland‘s main administration building is now the target of a police investigation.

The university building in College Park was evacuated Wednesday afternoon after the fake report, says WJLA TV, which prompted police officers to swarm the area.

The false call came in around 4 p.m. No suspects or problems were found, the station says, and by 4:10 p.m., police had cleared the scene.

Campus police described the incident this way:

“At approximately 3:27 p.m. today the University of Maryland received an anonymous phone call alerting of a threat of an armed individual holding a hostage at gunpoint in the Main Administration building. The University of Maryland Police Department responded immediately, evacuating and sweeping the entire Main Administration building, as well as conducting sweeps of nearby Lee and Mitchell buildings. After a complete sweep of the three buildings, it was determined that the threat was unfounded and the area was declared all clear. UMPD will continue to investigate this matter and will have high visibility patrols throughout the rest of the evening.”

»Police swarmed the University of Maryland campus in College Park Wednesday after a fake phone call reported a hostage situation. Credit: Photos courtesy of Ross Davis via Twitter