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Vigilance urged after uni threat

Students at Sydney's UNSW are being warned to be vigilant after an anonymous security threat was posted on an online forum.

Students pass by a police car at the University of NSW in Sydney
Staff and students from UNSW in Sydney are on alert over a security threat made online. (AAP)

University staff are working with NSW police to investigate the source of an online threat against a Sydney campus.

The University of NSW was on Monday targeted by an anonymous user who took to the 4Chan forum warning they had a gun.

"I finally managed to get a handgun. Australians, if you study at UNSW don't go in tomorrow," the threat said.

The university posted a security alert in response to the threat on Monday morning.

Uniform and plain clothes officers flooded the campus in Sydney's eastern suburbs and students were told classes would continue but were not compulsory.

Detective Superintendent Gavin Dengate said authorities were dealing with the online threat.

"As a result of that we have looked at trying to ascertain where the threat has come from," he said.

However Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Jacobs said students should continue their normal activities.

"The advice that we've received is that normal university activities can continue, we trust and rely on that advice and we'll continue to do so," Prof Jacobs told reporters on Monday.

"We do ask staff, students and visitors to be vigilant but there is no need for to us do anything else at present."

A student from UNSW posted on Facebook: "It's a scary thought that one can't even walk through uni or to the coffee shop or anywhere without the fear of this".

Anyone with information is being urged to come forward and speak to police.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



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