An overnight bomb threat forced Howard University students to evacuate two residence halls early Friday for the second time during the fall semester's first week of classes. Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick said this was the eighth bomb threat to the university this year and called the threats terrorism.
At least seven historically Black colleges and universities received bomb threats Tuesday, school officials said, triggering abrupt evacuations of students and employees.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Florida Memorial University, Howard University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, Prairie View A&M University in Texas, and Xavier University of Louisiana reported bomb threats. No explosions occurred.
The schools ordered evacuations or lockdowns and alerted local law enforcement.
"Although the threat was unfounded we ask that everyone remains vigilant," a statement from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff said, adding that the full student body hadn't yet returned from the holiday break but those who were there were relocated off campus.
Pine Bluff officials said their school received a threat about 5:15 p.m. Shortly after that, North Carolina Central University police received a call regarding a bomb threat on campus. The five other schools didn't immediately disclose the timing of their threats, though they said the messages had arrived during the afternoon or evening.
It was not immediately clear whether the threats were connected or whether they were racially motivated. By early Wednesday, all of the schools had released all-clear notices to their communities.
