Online troll threatens Oregon copycat college massacre at BRITISH university
POLICE are investigating an anonymous copycat threat to students at the University of Edinburgh just hours after a crazed gunman opened fire on a US campus leaving 13 people dead.
Police are investigating threats of an Oregon copycat shooting at Edinburgh University
The online troll posted a chilling message warning students at the University of Edinburgh not to go in for lectures.
The post was eerily similar to words believed to have been posted by gunmnan Chris Harper-Mercer on the message board 4chan before he carried out the deadly shooting.
The message, which has since been removed from the website, said: "Hark, my brothers, the Beta Uprising is finally here.
"Don't to University of Edinburgh tomorrow. [sic]
"To all the normies viewing this, keep checking the news, you'll see a lot of us on the news over the next few days."
In online chatroom culture "Beta Uprising" refers to quiet, socially awkward men rising up against popular society with acts of extreme violence.
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Keep checking the news, you'll see a lot of us on the news over the next few days
Police have confirmed they are investigating the threat after a student alerted them to the post made just before 1am on Friday.
Panic spread among students after the threat was posted on the University's Reddit board, with some considering skipping lectures.
One student said: "I hate to bow to paranoia, but I'm gonna give my lectures a miss tomorrow."
At least 10 people have been killed in the mass shooting in Oregon
So the shooting threat at Edinburgh is pretty terrifying, even if it's a hoax just keep a look out today, stay safe
— Kate Louise Powell ? (@KatePow3ll) October 2, 2015
Just been informed of a shooting threat today on Edinburgh campus... Whilst I'm sat in the university library ??????
— Alice Stone (@Alicestone94) October 2, 2015
James Stevenson, a philosophy student, said the post had left him frustrated as he believed it was a hoax.
He said: "There's something particularly disturbing about an individual trying to prevent others from learning and bettering themselves.
"I think the tragedy in Oregon was the result of a very specific set of social and cultural conditions, and I'm surprised by the proposition that it could happen in the UK.
"Frankly, I think that the threat is the work of an online prankster or bored, disaffected teenager.
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A spokeswoman for the University of Edinburgh said the threat was being taken "seriously" but refused to comment any further.
A member of the university's security told a student newspaper that security was "aware of the possible threat" and that the safety of students and staff was a "priority".
A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police Scotland is investigating following reports of a communication posted to a website.
"Enquiries into this communication are currently ongoing."
Why is there a shooting threat against Edinburgh Uni? I need to go to the library.
— Michael Simmons (@Simmons__) October 2, 2015
The Oregon gunman has been identified as British-born Chris Harper-Mercer, who reportedly ordered students to stand up and state their religion before carrying out the attack.
Chris Harper-Mercer apparently bought Nazi paraphernalia online and supported the IRA.
The shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, by the 26-year-old who moved to the US as a child, is the 45th school shooting in the US this year.