Historically Black colleges targeted by bomb threats

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Within the past two weeks more than a dozen historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have been targeted by bomb threats, prompting an investigation by the FBI and The White House.

Historically Black Colleges targeted by bomb threats

On the first day of Black History Month, 13 HBCUs received threats, disrupting operations and classes.

According to CNN, Tuesday’s targets were Alcorn State University, Coppin State, Morgan State, Jackson State, Fort Valley State, Mississippi Valley State, Kentucky State, Spelman College, Tougaloo College, Howard University, Xavier University, the University of the District of Columbia and Edward Waters University.

Morgan State in Baltimore, Maryland, instructed everyone on campus to remain where they were amid a bomb threat and moved all classes online for the day as emergency personnel assessed the situation.

Coppin State, also in Baltimore, received its threat shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday. The college posted on its website that campus was closed, that classes will be held virtually and employees will be teleworking while Baltimore Police, campus police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigate the threat.

For Washington D.C.’s Howard University, this is the third time this month they received threats. No bombs or weapons have been found on campuses and no arrests have been made.

Investigation

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Monday afternoon that President Joe Biden was aware of the threats received at HBCUs.

“I will say that these are certainly disturbing and the White House is in touch with interagency partners, including federal law enforcement leadership on this,” Psaki said during a White House press briefing on Monday.

The FBI told ABC News Monday it is aware of the series of threats and is working with law enforcement to find the culprit.

The acting deputy director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Thomas Chittum, also said that agents from the bureau are responding to the reports.

“We can confirm that ATF has responded,” Chittum told reporters on a call Monday. “Of course, it is a federal crime to use interstate facilities to make a bomb threat, and so ATF will provide our investigative expertise and support to that investigation, but obviously, the facts are preliminary and unfolding.”