On Thursday, several universities and colleges across the United States faced a series of swatting incidents, prompting heightened security measures and campus lockdowns. Villanova University, located just outside Philadelphia, was one of the first to respond to a threat of violence directed at an academic building early in the morning. The campus was quickly closed, and activities were canceled until an all-clear was issued at 1:36 p.m. Following the incident, both the FBI and local law enforcement began investigations into the threat.
Concurrently, Alcorn State University in Mississippi initiated a lockdown due to reports of a “safety threat,” which was resolved several hours later. In Texas, Wiley University received a threatening email that prompted a similar lockdown, which was lifted by noon. Also on the same day, Bishop State Community College in Mobile, Alabama, evacuated its campus and transitioned classes to an online format due to a menacing email. As a precaution, a nearby elementary school was placed on lockdown as well.
The alarming trend of swatting calls appears to extend beyond higher education. K-12 schools nationwide have also seen an increase in such threats. On Tuesday, multiple schools within the San Diego Unified School District were targeted, accompanied by threats at several educational institutions in Maine on Wednesday.
While it remains uncertain if these incidents are interconnected, a notable surge in swatting incidents occurred in August of this year, attributed to an extremist group. Additionally, a month later, seven historically Black colleges and universities were targeted with false bomb threats, indicating a troubling pattern.
These events highlight the pressing need for effective communication and robust emergency protocols within educational institutions to ensure the safety of students and staff during such disruptive incidents. As investigations continue, it is hoped that law enforcement will swiftly determine the source of these threats and hold those responsible accountable.