Villanova University issued an active shooting alert this afternoon, urging everyone on campus to “Move to secure location. Lock/barricade doors."

The false report of a gunman drew a large police response to the university’s campus northwest of Philadelphia, where freshmen and their parents were told to shelter in place.

“Today, as we are celebrating Orientation Mass to welcome our newest Villanovans and their families to our community, panic and terror ensued,” the Rev Peter M Donohue said in a statement.