FSU

Call from Ethiopia, No Credibility, Stone Building Evacuated: FSU in a National July 2022 Bomb-Threat Wave

Thursday, July 14, 2022FLbomb threatemergency notificationmedium confidence

UnfoundedNo evidence of an actual threat was found. The institutional response is documented because the alert communication is identical to what would occur during a real incident.

On July 14, 2022, Florida State University received a vague bomb threat -- originating from a number traced to Ethiopia -- and evacuated the Stone Building on West Call Street, which houses the College of Education. An FSU Alert was sent at 12:08 p.m. EDT, warning the campus community of heavy police presence. Capitol Police K-9 units swept the building, found nothing, and an all-clear was issued at 1:15 p.m. The threat also affected FSU's Panama City satellite campus. FSUPD said the threat had 'no credibility.'

Alerts: 2
Response: —
Killed: —
Injured: —

Institution

Florida State University

Public R1 · FL

~45,000 studentsFSU Alert

Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMSJul 14, 2022, 4:08 PM EDT

Approximate reconstruction183 chars

FSU Alert: There is a heavy police presence at the Stone Building. Students, faculty, and staff should avoid the area. An investigation is underway. More information will be provided.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The FSU Alert was sent at approximately 12:08 p.m. EDT on July 14, 2022, warning of heavy police presence at the Stone Building on West Call Street

The Stone Building houses FSU's College of Education; the bomb threat was described as 'vague' by law enforcement regarding its location on campus

Both the main Tallahassee campus and FSU's Panama City satellite campus received threats and were evacuated as a precaution

ALL CLEARSMSJul 14, 2022, 5:15 PM EDT+1h 7m

Approximate reconstruction197 chars

FSU Alert: All clear. The Stone Building has been swept by law enforcement including K-9 units and no threat was found. Normal operations may resume. FSUPD determined the threat has no credibility.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The all-clear was issued at 1:15 p.m. EDT, approximately one hour and seven minutes after the initial FSU Alert at 12:08 p.m.

Capitol Police K-9 units assisted FSUPD in the sweep of the Stone Building

The call was traced to a number originating from Ethiopia, consistent with the broader wave of overseas-origin bomb-threat calls targeting US colleges during July 2022

Context

Background

On July 14, 2022, Florida State University became part of a nationwide wave of bomb threats that struck dozens of colleges across multiple states in mid-July. FSUPD noted the call originated from Ethiopia, consistent with a pattern of overseas-origin calls targeting U.S. educational institutions that summer. The Stone Building -- home to FSU's College of Education -- was evacuated, and Capitol Police K-9 units swept the building before the all-clear was given at 1:15 p.m. EDT. The threat also touched FSU's satellite campus in Panama City, which was given a separate all-clear by local law enforcement. The July 2022 wave included threats to Eastern Florida State College, Florida Gateway College, Tidewater Community College, Virginia Peninsula Community College, multiple Louisiana community colleges, Kansas community colleges, Michigan colleges, and dozens of others -- a pattern that federal investigators linked to overseas callers. The FBI had concluded by then that the majority of the earlier 2022 HBCU bomb threats were attributed to a single domestic juvenile suspect, while the summer 2022 community-college wave appeared to have different origins.

Outcome

Stone Building and FSU Panama City satellite evacuated. Capitol Police K-9 units swept both locations. FSUPD declared no credibility. All-clear issued at 1:15 p.m. EDT. Threat call originated from a number traced to Ethiopia, consistent with the broader July 2022 wave hitting dozens of US colleges.

Provenance

Sources

News
Police presence at FSU's Stone Building cleared after bomb threat (WCTV)
wctv.tv
News
A bomb threat at Florida State University follows those at other schools in recent days and months (WFSU News)
news.wfsu.org
News
FSU bomb threat has 'no credibility,' deputies say (WFLA)
wfla.com
News
Update: All clear issued at Florida State University after building closures (First Coast News)
firstcoastnews.com
News
Police give all-clear after bomb threat made at FSU Panama City (WJHG)
wjhg.com

Alert Sequence

Background

Sources

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