Pitt police issue alert warning of 'public safety emergency' at O'Hara Street amid protest

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Pitt police issued an Emergency Notification Service alert on Tuesday evening for a "public safety emergency at O'Hara Street" amid a protest over a campus speaker.

In a tweet, campus police said, "Stay away from the area," including the O'Hara Student Center. At 9:41 p.m., Pittsburgh police ordered everyone on O'Hara Street to disperse hours after everything started around 3 p.m. The scene was cleared around 10:15 p.m. and buildings and streets began to reopen. 

"The prior emergency on O'Hara Street was resolved," the alert said at 10:20 p.m.

Around a hundred people were protesting a debate on transgender issues at the university featuring Micheal Knowles, a known conservative political commentator. The debate was hosted by a conservative student group on campus and received public backlash.

In a later tweet, the University of Pittsburgh said, "An incendiary device was set off outside O'Hara Student Center. No injuries are reported at this time, and there is not believed to be an ongoing threat." Officials did not say what the "incendiary device" was. 

At 8 p.m., Pitt said, "Please continue to stay clear of the area. Police remain on the scene. Medics were called as a precautionary measure."

In an alert, police said Thaw Hall, Old Engineering Hall, Gardner Steel Center, Benedum Hall, University Club, Allen Hall, SRCC and Thackeray Hall were closed. Pitt later added that Nordenberg Hall and the William Pitt Union were locked down.

The alert added there is no damage to any buildings. It is not clear if there were any arrests. There were no injuries reported. 

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After the debate, which ended around 9 p.m., those who attended were escorted out by police. 

Carnegie Mellon University said an alert issued about a "building collapse" was an error.

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