UPDATE - Report of active shooter at University of South Carolina ends with no evidence found

ADDS LATEST STATEMENT FROM CAROLINA ALERT, BACKGROUND

By Fatma Zehra Solmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - An active shooter was reported Sunday at the University of South Carolina in the US, triggering responses from multiple police departments.

Carolina Alert initially reported an active shooter at the Thomas Cooper Library on the university's Columbia campus.

Around 7.10 pm local time (2310GMT), it stated: "No evident (evidence) of an Active Shooter at this time. Police are searching. Please continue to shelter in place until there is an all clear."

Carolina Alert later released a statement saying: "ALL CLEAR. There is no ongoing emergency at this time; you no longer need to shelter in place."

It added that the library will be closed until further notice.

The incident occurred just days after false reports of active shooters at other universities, including Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, led to widespread panic and lockdowns.