News January 05, 2022
At Least 9 HBCUs Received Bomb Threats, Prompting Evacuations
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School officials from at least nine historically Black colleges and universities say their schools received bomb threats, prompting evacuations of students and faculty.
On Tuesday, Howard University (pictured above), University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Florida Memorial University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, Prairie A&M University in Texas, Xavier University, Spelman College, and Texas Southern University reported such threats and ordered immediate lockdowns.
No explosions occurred and by Wednesday, all of the institutions released all-clear notices.
“All clear,” Howard University wrote on its official Twitter account. “Howard’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) and MPD responded to a potential bomb threat on campus this afternoon. The perimeter was secured and searched. No active devices were found and the area has been cleared.”
All clear. Howard’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) and MPD responded to a potential bomb threat on campus this afternoon. The perimeter was secured and searched. No active devices were found and the area has been cleared.
— Howard University (@HowardU) January 4, 2022 @HowardU
As reported by the Washington Post, officials from Pine said their school received a threat around 5:15 p.m. Shortly afterward, North Carolina Central University police received a call about a bomb threat on campus.
As of this writing, there does not appear to be a connection among the alleged threats, nor is there any evidence they were racially motivated.
Last November, multiple Ivy League universities — including Cornell, Columbia, and Brown — reported bomb threats, which triggered evacuations.
Ultimately, the threats were deemed not credible and the campuses were cleared for students and employees to return.
