The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) held a conference call this week to update local and campus law enforcement on their investigations into recent bomb threats on Historically Black College and University (HBCU) campuses and faith-based institutions. 

The agencies are investigating these threats as hate crimes and racially motivated violent domestic terrorism. FBI representatives noted they are tracking 60 institutions that have been threatened, which includes colleges, churches and synagogues. They also shared that they have identified a group of individuals related to the first spate of threats in January, and that the ongoing investigation involves 30 FBI field offices.

The FBI is concerned that the threats continue, and reassured participants that identifying and investigating them is a top priority. Threats have come mostly from phone messages, but also from instant messaging, email and online posts. The FBI encourages colleges to record and save any threatening messages received and report them to local or regional field offices. 

Department of Homeland Security representatives shared that their Office of Academic Engagement has a broad array of resources to support institutions, such as: connections to Protective Security Advisors in regional offices, assistance with cybersecurity efforts, threat landscape discussions for college presidents, grants to combat targeted violence, and tabletop active shooter training. 

DHS also encouraged campuses to review suspicious activity protocols on campus so that campus law enforcement and leadership are prepared to assess, respond, and manage a situation should it arise. 

Both agencies emphasized campuses to remind their communities about “See Something, Say Something,” and to reach out to field offices immediately if suspicious activity occurs.