Developing Story: Reload the page periodically to see updates to this story.
Cornell University has issued a warning for all of the Central campus:
CornellALERT for the Ithaca campus: Avoid central campus. Evacuate areas in or nearby the Law School, Goldwin Smith, Upson Hall and Kennedy Hall. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
— Cornell University (@Cornell) November 7, 2021
According to the website Ithacavoice, Cornell University campus police confirmed at around 3:40pm today that they had received a bomb threat. “Cornell spokesperson Abby Butler said the school does not have any more information to share currently. A supervisor with Tompkins County Department of Emergency Response said they have no information other than what was put out by the school. Certain buildings on Yale University’s campus were evacuated on Friday after a bomb threat, and Columbia University’s student newspaper is reporting evacuations there now due to a bomb threat.”
According to WIVB-4 Ithaca, “Police and SWAT units are responding to a bomb threat at multiple buildings on Cornell University’s Ithaca campus. The University tweeted its first alert around 2 p.m. telling people to avoid the areas of the arts quad and Goldwin Smith Hall. The university later expanded its alert to include the Law School, Upson Hall, and Kennedy Hall. Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick says Ithaca Police Department’s SWAT unit is responding and that those in the area should monitor campus alerts.”
4:05pm: the online outlet The Sun claimed published a hearsay claim of an active shooter at the Cornell University law school, however this claim has not been confirmed by any other outlet, at this time.
4:07pm, the University issued a new tweet:
CornellALERT: Ithaca Campus Law enforcement is on site and investigating campus bomb threat. Security perimeter is in place. Continue to avoid central campus.
— Cornell University (@Cornell) November 7, 2021
Columbia University has also reported a bomb threat. People are naturally suspicious seeing bomb-threats at two Ivy League universities on the same day. Twitter is awash in conspiracy theories as people wonder if this is coordinated MAGA terrorism.
On Sunday, November 7, at approximately 2:30 p.m., #ColumbiaUniversity Public Safety issued a campus-wide emergency alert after receiving bomb threats at University buildings. NYPD is investigating. Avoid the area until further notice.
— Columbia University (@Columbia) November 7, 2021
4:28pm Now there are reports of a bomb threat at Brown University as well.
BREAKING: Following a bomb threat on campus, Brown has evacuated all buildings on the Main Green. This follows threats at Yale, Cornell and Columbia. Story to follow. pic.twitter.com/zlLjcITvEW
— Brown Daily Herald (@the_herald) November 7, 2021
4:55pm there are numerous claims circulating on social media about what’s going on at these schools. It appears much of this activity may be part of a coordinated disinformation effort designed to promote fear. I’m not going down the rabbit hole of putting up all of the random claims and will only post updates that come from University twitter accounts, area police departments, or which are reported as having been confirmed by local news outlets.
5:44pm Cornell has published a new tweet indicating building sweeps are ongoing, and still advising everyone to avoid Central Campus buildings.
CornellALERT: Ithaca Campus Police investigation of bomb threat ongoing, building sweeps are in progress. Please continue to avoid central campus
— Cornell University (@Cornell) November 7, 2021
The NYPD deemed that the bomb threats at Columbia University were not credible.
UPDATE: Following an investigation, today’s bomb threats were deemed not credible by the NYPD and the campus buildings have been cleared for reoccupancy. We thank those individuals affected for their patience and cooperation in evacuating.
— Columbia University (@Columbia) November 7, 2021