Seven historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) received bomb threats this week, resulting in a string of evacuations and police investigations.
The schools that reported bomb threats are the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Florida Memorial University, Howard University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University (NC Central), Prairie View A&M University in Texas, and Xavier University of Louisiana, according to The Washington Post.
Schools like NC Central asked students to relocate to a nearby parking lot and church and later transported them back to campus. By Wednesday, all the schools issued all clear alerts.
On Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, the Department of Public Safety at Spelman and the Atlanta Police Department responded to a potential bomb threat in the Manley College Center. After a thorough search, no devices were found and the building was secured. APD is actively investigating. pic.twitter.com/BtkD9q0zvc
— Spelman College (@SpelmanCollege) January 5, 2022
The bomb threats were found to not be credible, according to WTOP News. However, bomb occurrences have increased in recent years, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Justice. Authorities have not yet reported if the terroristic acts toward the HBCUs were racially motivated.
The bomb threats came after multiple Ivy League schools like Cornell and Brown University received similar threats in November. The bomb threats also come on the heels of a COVID-19 surge, which has contributed to spring term disruptions. Schools like Howard University have announced a reopening delay due to the spike in COVID-19 cases.
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
