No threat found after armed intruder reported at US campus

Officials at Louisiana State University said there were no shots fired and no injuries after an armed intruder was reported on campus yesterday afternoon.

The university posted a message on Twitter about 3pm (local time) saying an armed intruder had been reported in Coates Hall and police were on the scene. Coates Hall houses academic departments and several student support services, according to the LSU website.

US media outlets are reporting a plain clothes police officer walking around with a gun on his belt likely triggered the alert.

The tweet advised students and others on the Baton Rouge campus to run, hide or fight. In a later post, university officials said: "The situation is ongoing. No shots have been fired, and there are no injuries. Continue to avoid the area or remain in a safe place."

After two hours, campus officials tweeted that they investigated and determined there was no threat.

Classes are not in session at the state's flagship university, but many students have been moving back to the school after the northern summer break.

Police had cordoned off an area around the building with tape and several officers were present, but life on the campus appeared to go on without disruption. Students mingled at the student union across the street, and traffic flowed normally.