Emergency.Blog

Several College Campuses Have been Evacuated/Shut Down Due to Threats

14:30CDT - 18 April 2007

Bomb Threats and Other Suspicious Activity Reported on Other Campuses

CHICAGO, IL: In what may be a spate of "copycat" or hoax incidents, four or more college campuses have been evacuated or shut down due to threats in the past 24 hours. The Emergencynet News Watchdesk is currently monitoring two other incidents involving potential campus threats. Other threats/evacuations were reported in regard to schools in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona and Tennessee on Tuesday. So far, all of the incidents have turned out to be unsubstantiated.

One ERRI senior crisis management experts said today that this series of unfounded incidents are a "sick and disrespectful response" to the terrible tragedy that occurred at Virginia Tech. "This is not the time for playing pranks or engaging in other adolescent behavior...tensions are already high on a number of college campuses and these incidents can contribute to a 'climate of fear' that is not healthy for America's students," ERRI CEO and senior analyst Clark Staten said today. "These hoaxes need to end now and those who may feel that they might want to carry out some sort of copycat incident should seek professional mental health care immediately," Staten added.

EmergencyNet news is monitoring this emerging trend closely and we will bring you additional details as circumstances may warrant...Watch Emergency.Blog for more details if/when they become available.