A number of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across the U.S. went into lockdown and canceled classes Monday after receiving bomb threats. By early afternoon Eastern time, most of them had issued all-clears and lifted lockdown orders.
At least six HBCUs — Albany State University, Bethune-Cookman University, Bowie State University, Delaware State University, Howard University and Southern University and A&M College — received threats, according to spokespeople, statements and social media posts.
Federal law enforcement is also involved. “The FBI is aware of the series of bomb threats around the country and we are working with our law enforcement partners to address any potential threats,” the bureau said in a statement. “As always, we would like to remind members of the public that if they observe anything suspicious to report it to law enforcement immediately.”
Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department and Howard University’s police force issued an “all-clear” for the campus at 6:22 a.m. following a bomb threat made about two hours earlier, according to a university spokesperson.
Carlos Holmes, a spokesperson for Delaware State University, said police had completed their search of the entire campus by early afternoon and hadn’t found a bomb.
Bethune-Cookman University and Southern University and A&M College both went into lockdown, with Southern also canceling classes. Bethune-Cookman later lifted its lockdown, and Southern issued an all-clear.
Albany State University closed its campus and postponed classes and operations until further notice.
Bowie State University said its campus was also closed but that students would attend classes online and employees would work virtually. It lifted its shelter-in-place order by early afternoon.
-NPR