Bomb Threats Rattle More Historically Black Schools Amid FBI Investigation

LOADING ERROR LOADING Three more historically Black colleges and universities faced bomb threats Friday morning, just two days after the FBI described the ongoing rash of incidents as “violent extremism and hate crimes.” New Orleans’ Dillard University, North Carolina’s Elizabeth City State University and Virginia’s Norfolk State University ― all HBCUs ― either asked people to shelter in place or asked them to clear the campus Friday amid new bomb threats. “The FBI is investigating these cases as racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism and hate crimes.” Though no explosives related to the threats have been found, the FBI said it recognizes “the fear and disruption this has caused across the country.” Several of the bomb scares have occurred at HBCUs within the University of North Carolina system, whose president on Friday called the threats a reminder of “the barriers that too many of our students still face on the path to higher education.” Statement from UNC System President Peter Hans: pic.twitter.com/KYJzLArtAT — UNC System February 25, 2022 Sen. Mark Warner also spoke out Friday, saying he’s “extremely disturbed by the continuing bomb threats against HBCUs.” There are more than 100 accredited HBCUs across the country. Earlier this month, media reports circulated that the FBI had identified six “tech savvy” juveniles as persons of interest in HBCU bomb threats. Several HBCU officials and civil rights groups testified before a congressional committee last week about the ongoing bomb threats, saying the response must go beyond an FBI investigation.