Virginia colleges receive a rash of bomb threats

Three Virginia colleges are investigating potentially linked bomb threats at on-campus libraries.

Between 10:49 a.m. and 12:52 p.m. Friday, the University of Virginia, Bridgewater College and George Mason University had all received bomb threats.

Virginia’s higher education institutions were already on high alert following Thursday’s fatal shooting at Old Dominion University, in which one person was killed and two were injured.

The UVA Alert system was the first to send out a message on Friday that a bomb threat had been reported. The threat targeted the Shannon Library.

University Police began clearing the library on McCormick Road, later evacuating nearby Clemons Library as a precaution.

After police searched but did not find an explosive device, an all-clear was issued at 1:42 p.m., resuming normal library operations.

A University of Virginia spokesperson said the police responded to “an emailed bomb threat.”

“The threat was determined to be a hoax possibly linked to a series of similar threats sent to Virginia colleges on Friday,” the spokesperson said.

Bridgewater College ordered the immediate evacuation of Forrer Learning Commons due to a bomb threat in a campus-wide alert at 12:47 p.m. A Bridgewater College spokesperson told WHSV that the college received the threat via email shortly before 1 p.m.

The bomb threat had been cleared at about 2 p.m. after no device was found.

At 12:52 p.m., George Mason University said that Fenwick Library is closed until further notice, instructing those in the area to stay away.

“This threat has not been confirmed. An investigation is being conducted out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of public safety. Please follow the direction of law enforcement and/or emergency personnel,” the university said on social media.

In the shooting Thursday, a classroom at Old Dominion University was awash in gunshots shortly before 11 a.m. after Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former member of the Army National Guard who spent eight years in prison for terrorism-related charges, opened fire.

He had yelled “Allahu Akbar” before the shooting, according to the FBI.

Authorities are investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism, FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday.