Bomb Threats Called Into 5 Mississippi HBCUs

MISSISSIPPI — At least five historically Black colleges and universities received bomb threats Tuesday morning as part of a widespread series of similar threats made to HBCUs in several states on the first day of Black History Month.

Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Alcorn State University and Tougaloo College received threats Tuesday, and Hinds Community College closed several of its campuses because of threats at other schools in Hinds County.

Rust College also received a bomb threat and is on lockdown Tuesday, a spokesperson from the college confirmed to Patch.

Authorities from Holly Springs Police Department, the sheriff's offices from Marshall and DeSoto counties, Marshall County Fire Department and the FBI searched the campus with bomb detection K-9s and gave an all clear Tuesday morning, according to the school.

Rust College will move to virtual classes for the rest of Tuesday and will resume normal activities Wednesday. There will be increased security on the campus for the remainder of the week, and visitors are not allowed at this time, the school said.

An all clear has been issued at Jackson State and classes will resume normally, though faculty, staff and students will be required to wear their ID badges visibly at all times, the university said in a statement.

Alcorn State will hold classes virtually with no in-person student activities Tuesday. All employees except emergency personnel will work remotely, and the dining hall will serve brunch until 1 p.m. and dinner from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., according to tweets from the university.

Tougaloo College also will hold virtual classes Tuesday, and an all clear has been given, according to an alert posted on the school's website.

Mississippi Valley State is on lockdown with only essential workers on campus Tuesday, the university said in a letter to students and staff.

This story is being updated.

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• Bomb Threats Target Spelman, Other GA Historically Black Colleges