Doha: The New York Police Department evacuated on Thursday the Milstein Library at Barnard College, Columbia University, after receiving a bomb threat, coinciding with student protests in support of Palestine on campus.

According to Qatar News Agency, a statement issued by Barnard College President Laura Rosenbury indicated that several offices at the college received a pipe bomb threat inside the library. This prompted the intervention of police and firefighters to evacuate the building as a precaution, with the possibility of expanding searches on campus.

The university administration emphasized to the police the importance of avoiding arrests during the evacuation process. They added that any legal action should be considered a “last resort” if security threat assessments are obstructed.

The Students for Justice in Palestine group accused the college administration of using the bomb threat as a pretext to suppress anti-Israel protests. They noted that students were forced to move 1,000 feet away from the library, while residents of the nearby university dormitory were not notified of the evacuation.