Several Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country were on lockdown Thursday after a series of “terrorist threats.”
Early Thursday morning, Hampton University and Virginia State University said they received terrorist threats. Later, the list grew as Alabama State University, Clark Atlanta University, Southern University in Louisiana, and Bethune-Cookman in Florida reported threats. Spelman College has ordered a shelter in place because of its proximity to Clark.
“It is imperative that all members of the Hampton University community remain vigilant,” the university said in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Virginia State University posted on its X account that the campus remains on lockdown. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are actively investigating the threats the university received early on Thursday, they said in a separate post.
Hampton and Virginia State are about a 90-minute drive from each other.
“Campus Police along with other law enforcement agencies, are actively clearing all buildings on campus,” Virginia State said Thursday afternoon in the statement. People on campus were permitted to leave through the entrance of buildings. Students were advised to shelter in place in their on-campus housing until further notice.
Southern University has multiple campuses. Officials advised students and faculty on the Baton Rouge campus to shelter in place Thursday afternoon, according to the university’s X account.
Alabama State, one of the first universities to receive a threat according to the times of the press release, issued an all-clear Thursday afternoon from law enforcement. Day-to-day nonessential activities remain suspended and a shelter in place continues until further notice.
