Ohio State University evacuates 4 buildings after bomb threat

(Reuters) - Authorities evacuated four buildings at Ohio State University and closed streets to traffic on Tuesday morning following bomb threats, the university said.

Occupants of a library and three laboratories were evacuated and directed to safe areas, the university said on its website.

The university issued text messages to 32,000 subscribers to its alert service warning them to stay clear of the buildings, which were closed until further notice.

"Avoid these buildings & area," the school said in its Twitter feed.

Authorities also closed three streets to traffic.

"OSU police were alerted by the FBI at 8:19 a.m. that bomb threats were received for The William Oxley Thompson Memorial Library, McPherson Chemical Lab, Smith Laboratory and Scott Laboratory," the school said on the website.

The FBI, university police, university public safety officials, and the Columbus Fire Department were investigating the bomb threats.

The central Ohio school has about 55,000 students, according to the College Board. Ohio State athletes are known as Buckeyes.

(Writing by Jonathan Oatis; Editing by Jerry Norton)