IOWA CITY Iowa

It took up to two hours for e-mails to reach all users in the University of Iowa's database, warning people about a bomb threat.

University spokesman Steve Parrott acknowledged that the system used Monday to send out e-mails to 45,000 users was slow.

"It's not perfect for emergencies," Parrott said Tuesday.

Iowa also is working on a system that would send messages to people's cell, work and home phones, Parrott said. And the university still plans to put in place five sirens with voiceover capabilities, although timing of that move wasn't clear.

People on campus were alerted Monday after anonymous e-mails were sent to a university employee claiming that four pipe bombs had been placed on campus.

Police exploded a backpack found in Jessup Hall, but it didn't contain explosives.

University technology employee were trying to trace the e-mails but weren't optimistic.

"It's probably not going to bear any fruit," said Department of Public Safety Director Chuck Green.


- Associated Press

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