By Adam Nichols
DNAinfo News Editor
Midtown - A security email triggered panic at the offices of Women's Wear Daily magazine when it warned a crazed gunman was roaming the building - and urged staff to take cover.
The memo - meant as a drill and sent out in error - saw staff at the Conde Nast publication locking themselves in closets and cowering under desks as police rushed to the Third Avenue building, according to the New York Post.
"We have received reports that a firearm has been discharged on the 10th floor of 750 building, 3rd Avenue in New York," read the email, sent on Friday.
"If you are in a safe location, remain where you are. Get behind a locked door, or hide behind some type of obstruction. Lay down on the floor and remain as quite (sic) as possible. Evacuate the facility only if you deem this safe or necessary."
The panic spread fast to other offices in the building, which houses Reader's Digest and The Economist.
"People got a little crazy and a little out of control," building manager James Shanahan told the Post.
"But it settled down pretty quickly. We immediately issued an announcement ...that it was just a false alarm."
Seven minutes after the terrifying email was sent, another one popped into workers' inboxes, according to the Post.
"The message was sent in error," it read.
"It was a department drill. Please accept our apologies."