MTSU students evacuate campus under credible threat

Students at MTSU are evacuating campus after a series of suspicious fires and a credible threat. Classes are also cancelled tomorrow.

A message from MTSU President Sidney McPhee:

A credible threat to our campus has been made. As a result, as of noon today, classes will be cancelled for the remainder of the week. Campus Police, in cooperation with local and state law enforcement officials, are actively investigating the situation, which involves a series of threatening emails and suspicious fires.

During this time, campus security will be increased. University offices will maintain normal business hours and other campus events will go on as scheduled. Following our regularly scheduled fall break, classes will resume on Wednesday, October 15. Employees and students are encouraged to report any unusual or suspicious activity to Campus Police. More information will be provided on the MTSU home page as details become available.

One MTSU faculty and blogger speculates it's "mindless skinheads" targetting supporters of Barack Obama.

I don't know if this may be related but conservative thugs are not only stealing Obama yard signs in Murfreesboro, but they are spray painting people's houses and committing vandalism on cars and homes with Obama signs. This has happened to an MTSU administrator at his home. Mindless skinhead thugs I guess. You know what side they're on.

Here's what MTSU student and blogger Matthew Hurtt says came in an email to MTSU students and faculty:

On Wednesday, October 8, 2008, several campus e-mail clients received general but threatening e-mails. The author of the threat indicated that the unspecific action would take place on October 9. An Investigation is being conducted to locate the sender. Please report any suspicious activity to Campus Police. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the MTSU Police Department at 615-898-2424 or Crimestoppers at 615-893-7867.

UPDATE 1:17pm - Ever since the text message went out to campus about this situation around noon, MTSU's website has been down.

UPDATE 1:31pm - Here's some highlights of information being shared on Twitter:

• Kelliente: MTSU police parking lot is FULL of vehicles, some with trailers & equipment. 10 minutes ago
• j_rock: Bomb threat at MTSU... Class canceled till wednesday nxt week! Should I feel bad for being happy? 20 minutes ago
• AnalogKid: Since some dummy decided to play terrorist at MTSU I am officially on vacation till Wednesday. 39 minutes ago
• jscheel: Skinheads at MTSU campus terrorizing Obama supporters? Cmon... jeez, let's spread some FUD, that's what we need.

UPDATE 2:18pm - we're working to confirm that Murfreesboro Police have a suspect in custody.

UPDATE 3:53pm - We just concluded a live stream of a press conference at MTSU here on the NIT Sidebar. Police said there is no one in custody at this time.

If you follow "nitweet" on Twitter, you can get a heads up on when we plan to live stream breaking news events. Read more from our reporters here.

UPDATE 8:04pm - Murfreesboro Police have arrested Justin Jamal Davis on terrorism and arson charges.

Police arrested 19-year-old Justin Davis, a student at the school, at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, only a few hours after MTSU President Sidney McPhee sent an e-mail to faculty, staff and students, canceling classes for the remainder of the week.

Davis, who is from Antioch, is currently being held in the Rutherford County jail on terrorism and arson charges.

His bond has been set at $500,000.