Lockdown lifted at Va. college after bomb threat

BUENA VISTA, Va. – The lockdown at a small central Virginia college has been lifted after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of residence halls overnight.

Southern Virginia University lifted the lockdown at 5:30 a.m. Monday after police and K-9 units cleared buildings at the school in Buena Vista. About 500 students were allowed to return to their dorms around 3:45 a.m.

School spokesman Burke Olsen says a call came in through a deaf service around 10 p.m. Sunday claiming there were multiple bombs on campus that would be detonated unless the caller received an undisclosed amount of money.

Olsen said police are questioning individuals but have made no arrests. Police did not immediately return a telephone message.

The private, 750-student college embraces the values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.