Multiple HBCUs Receive Bomb Threats in 2 Days
The FBI says six ‘tech savvy’ juveniles are persons of interest in the rash of bomb threats.
Photo via Adobe, by Marzky Ragsac Jr.
UPDATE FEBRUARY 4, 2022, 7:29 PACIFIC: The FBI has identified six “tech savvy” persons of interest in this case. They are all minors, and the threats appear to be racially motivated, reports NBC News.
UPDATE FEBRUARY 1, 2022, 9:43 PACIFIC: NBC News is reporting that Coppin State University in Baltimore, Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia, Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky, Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, Edward Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida, Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, Mississippi, Spelman College in Atlanta, Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi, and Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi all received bomb threats on Tuesday, in addition to Howard University, the University of District of Columbia, and Morgan State University. All of the schools targeted are HBCUs.
UPDATE FEBRUARY 1, 2022, 9:11 A.M. PACIFIC: In addition to Monday’s bomb threats, three HBCUs experienced another round of bomb threats on Tuesday. The schools targeted were Howard University, the University of District of Columbia, and Morgan State University, reports WTOP.
Morgan State told its campus community to continue sheltering in place, while Howard University and the University of District of Columbia issued an all-clear after those campuses were deemed safe.
Howard University received several threats at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, and a threat was made against the University of District Columbia 20 minutes later.
February is Black History Month.
On Monday morning, at least six historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) received bomb threats.
The campuses that received the threats included Howard University, Bethune-Cookman University, Bowie State University, Southern University and A&M, Albany State, and Delaware State University. Additionally, Judson Bible College, which is not an HBCU, received a threat.
In response to the threats, the HBCUs went into lockdown and cancelled classes.
In Maryland, State Police issued an all clear for Bowie State in the afternoon after an extensive search of the campus. Howard campus police didn’t find anything on their campus either and issued an all-clear around 1 p.m. on Monday, reports WTOP.
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Southern University issued an all-clear Monday afternoon as well, reports WBRZ.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and FBI are investigating the threats.
This is the second time a cluster of HBCUs have received bomb threats this month. On January 4, Norfolk State University, Florida Memorial University, North Carolina Central University, Prairie View A&M University, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Xavier University and Howard University were targeted.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), most bomb threats are received by phone. Bomb threats are serious until proven otherwise. DHS advises campuses that receive bomb threats to act quickly but remain calm and obtain information.
Download the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s Bomb Threat Checklist.
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About the Author
Robin Hattersley, Editor-in-Chief
Robin has been covering the security and campus law enforcement industries since 1998 and is a specialist in school, university and hospital security, public safety and emergency management, as well as emerging technologies and systems integration. She joined CS in 2005 and has authored award-winning editorial on campus law enforcement and security funding, officer recruitment and retention, access control, IP video, network integration, event management, crime trends, the Clery Act, Title IX compliance, sexual assault, dating abuse, emergency communications, incident management software and more. Robin has been featured on national and local media outlets and was formerly associate editor for the trade publication Security Sales & Integration. She obtained her undergraduate degree in history from California State University, Long Beach.
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