A massive manhunt for a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings and an overnight shootout that killed an MIT officer have led several Boston area colleges to close for the day.
Boston College, Boston University, Berklee, Emerson College, Harvard University MIT Northeastern University and UMass Boston and Wentworth Institute of Technology are among the schools closed for the day in a city that is home to dozens of colleges and universities.
MIT posted an alert on its Web site urging residents not to come to campus on Friday.
UMass Dartmouth is also closed and in the process of a controlled evacuation of the campus, according to the school's Web site.
"This action is in response to information that the person being sought in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing is a registered student," the web site says.
Harvard University Police are advising community members to stay indoors while the search for the suspect continues.
“Due to the shooting at MIT and the active investigations, Berklee will be closed today Friday April 19th,” a statement from Berklee says.
BC is closed and classes are cancelled until further notice. Police tell students to stay indoors. Check www.bc.edu/bcinfo,” an alert from BC says.
BU advises all students to stay inside and attentive to news developments. “BU police will be patrolling the campus and monitoring the situation. Updates will follow as information becomes available. Please monitor BU Today for more information,” an alert from BU says.
Northeastern’s campus is safe and unaffected by the overnight incidents in Cambridge and Watertown, according to the school, but the closure of the MBTA and need for residents of many surrounding communities to stay home has prompted the school to close today, a statement from Northeastern says. https://www.facebook.com/northeastern
UMass’s Web site says the campus is closed because of the MBTA shutdown and law enforcement action.
Photo Credit: AP