images“A very specific threat of violence” has led authorities to close three buildings on the University of Minnesota’s West Bank Minneapolis campus. The threat targeted the Carlson School of Management, Hanson Hall and the Hubert H. Humphrey Center, according to University Police Chief Greg Hestness.

Update: The AP reports that there was a “threat of a shooting” on campus.

“We are erring on the side of caution by canceling classes and activities and closing the buildings,” Hestness said. “We’re actively investigating this threat.”

Classes and other activities in the building set for 3:45 p.m. or later today are canceled. The buildings will close at 4:30 p.m.

At least two special events are moving to new locations.  A lecture on the “Changing Competitive Position of Public Research Universities,” at the Humphrey Institute will instead take place at Blegen Hall.  And the very timely “Town Hall/Ethics Forum” on the topic “Fever Pitch: Does Health News Reporting Leave Consumers Out in the Cold?” has moved to Murphy Hall, at 7 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by the Minnesota News Council, the Silha Center for the Study of Ethics and Law, and the Society of Professional Journalists.

The Minnesota News Council issued this assurance: “The security threat has nothing to do with SPJ, the Silha Center, the Minnesota News Council, or any of our panelists, according to law enforcement officials.”

A university spokesperson said the decision to close the buildings was made in the past few hours. He said other university buildings have been closed out of similar caution in past years but could not immediately provide details.

Five days ago, University and Minneapolis police battled students and other young people who set a fire in the street and tossed bottles at an offcampus party coinciding with the university’s annual “Spring Jam” event.

And a sign of the times: The university’s official statement about today’s threat included an assurance that “the building closures had nothing to do with the H1N1 (swine) virus.”