Ohio State's emergency alert system issued a false alert Friday afternoon claiming there was a report of an attack issued near campus. The message was sent accidentally by the system's vendor as part of some system maintenance.
The first alert warning was sent to smartphones through text message notifications and on social media just before 2:10 p.m. The message said there was an active attacker reported on or near the university's main campus.
Buckeye Alert! Active Attacker reported on/near the OSU Columbus campus. Secure in place: RUN,HIDE,or, as a last resort,FIGHT! Police responding. More info soon
— OSU Emergency Mngmnt (@OSU_EMFP) June 2, 2023
A second message indicating that the alert was false was sent out seven minutes later and that the alert system was undergoing maintenance.
Buckeye Alert TEST - We are undergoing system maintenance and our vendor accidently activated our system. There is NO emergency on any Ohio State campus.
— OSU Emergency Mngmnt (@OSU_EMFP) June 2, 2023
OSU Police tweeted out an apology Friday afternoon.
We take our responsibility to enhance safety and keep you informed seriously. Today the Buckeye Alert system malfunctioned while undergoing maintenance. We apologize and are working to ensure the system operates correctly moving forward. Previous errant posts have been deleted.
— OSU Police (@OSUPOLICE) June 2, 2023
