Students confused, alarmed by test messages took to social media.
NEW BRUNSWICK -- Students were alarmed Thursday at 9:49 a.m. with a text notifying students of an armed suspect in an area of Alexander Library on the College Avenue campus.
Two minutes later, students received another text: "End training scenario." And then, after that, "Earlier message was sent during a planned exercise of the RU's emergency management system there is no threat to the Campus."
"We recognize that the wording of the initial message caused some concern and alarm amongst recipients; however the message was sent only to test the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS)," said Michael Rein, deputy chief of University police, in a statement. "University Public Safety will be making necessary changes to protocols for future training exercises."
A campus-wide email had been sent out on Wednesday notifying the campus of its plans to carry out safety exercises.
"Each year, University Public Safety collaborates with various departments at Rutgers University - New Brunswick to conduct emergency response exercises, such as table top exercises, field exercises, and tests of the emergency notification system," said Kenneth Cop, executive director of public safety, in the statement.
Cop said the Rutgers University Police Department would conduct training exercises in and around Alexander Library on Thursday, and people on the College Avenue campus would see greater security around the area.
But the exercise on Thursday still alarmed students, who took to voicing their feelings on Twitter.
The text came in the wake of the biggest mass shooting in the United States. On Sunday morning, 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, where he killed 49 people and injured 53.