Mercer University heightens security after e-mail threats

Mercer University officials heightened security on campus Thursday following an incident where administrators received a threatening e-mail.

“Two administrative offices on Mercer’s Macon campus today received an anonymous e-mail that contained ambiguous threats that the university is currently investigating with the assistance of outside law enforcement,” university spokesman Larry Brumley said in a statement. “We have increased security and ask that students, faculty and staff be vigilant and promptly report the presence of any suspicious persons or circumstances on campus to Mercer Police at (478) 301-2970. We will provide additional information as we can.”

No other details were immediately available by late Thursday. The security alert caused several students who had late afternoon classes to lock themselves in their classrooms following reports of the incident.

Brumley said the university administration did not issue a lockdown, however.

The incident remains under investigation.