Machine-gun armed police swooped on Highline College in Des Moines, Washington, after reports of “shots fired” – with witnesses claiming they heard up to eight shots.

Axar.az reports citing Daily Star.

School authorities warned children the school was on “lockdown” and told kids “this is not a drill”.

Emergency services packed on the campus to investigate, only to find no evidence of shots being fired or a shooter.

Youngsters posted pictures of themselves hiding out in their classrooms as panic gripped the campus just days after 17 people died in a school shooting in Florida.

And yesterday, also in Florida, there was a false alarm just seven miles from the scene of the massacre alleged carried out by Nikolas Cruz.