[Maru]

Shots have been fired at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, sparking a massive police response on Thursday afternoon.

Dozens of students and staff were seen fleeing for their lives after gunshots rang out at the school's campus in Dorchester, the Boston Police Department told WCVB.

Gunfire was reported at 3:45pm near Morrissey Boulevard, the outlet reported.

Several UMass Boston alerts warned students that the incident is a 'public safety threat' and is in or near a residence hall in the school's East Building.

SWAT teams rushed to the dorm building, as people were urged to avoid the area.

Sky5 footage showed students and staff evacuating a campus building with their hands raised, as officers armed with rifles swarmed the area.

The urgent alert comes at a fraught time for America - as multiple colleges across the country were put on lockdown today over a series of bomb and terror threats.

UMass's shooting also comes just one day after conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University.

Massachusetts State Police said in a statement: 'Troopers have responded to UMass Boston to an unconfirmed report of a shooting on campus.