Lincoln (PA)

Nation's First Degree-Granting HBCU Targeted in Late February as Bomb Wave Continues

Friday, February 25, 2022PAbomb threatemergency notificationmedium confidence

Confirmed HoaxDetermined to be a hoax. The institutional response is documented because it reveals how the alert system performed under a perceived real threat.

Lincoln University), the nation's first degree-granting HBCU, received a bomb threat on Friday morning, February 25, 2022. Students were ordered to shelter in place while federal law enforcement swept the campus. No threats to the public were found and campus functions resumed shortly after noon.

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

Institution

Lincoln University

Hbcu · PA

~2,200 studentsSaferWatch Alerts

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 ALERTEmailFriday morning, February 25, 2022 EST

Approximate reconstruction241 chars

Lincoln University has received a bomb threat. All students are directed to shelter in place immediately. Do not leave your current location. Federal law enforcement has been notified and is responding to campus. Further updates will follow.

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

Reconstructed from CBS Philadelphia coverage of the incident

Campus officials received the threat via phone call according to CBS Philadelphia

This was a late-wave threat, coming nearly a month after the initial January cluster

ALL CLEAREmailShortly after noon, February 25, 2022 EST

Approximate reconstruction179 chars

Federal law enforcement has completed their sweep of the campus. No threats to the public were found. The shelter-in-place order has been lifted and campus functions are resuming.

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

Reconstructed from CBS Philadelphia report confirming campus functions resumed shortly after noon

The involvement of federal law enforcement rather than just local police reflects the FBI's elevated posture toward HBCU threats at this point in the wave

Context

Background

Lincoln University) in Chester County, Pennsylvania, is the nation's first degree-granting HBCU, chartered in 1854. Its bomb threat on February 25, 2022, came late in the 2022 HBCU bomb threat wave -- nearly a month after the initial cluster in late January. By this point, the FBI had already identified six juveniles as persons of interest and had more than 20 field offices investigating the threats as racially motivated hate crimes. The campus was swept by federal law enforcement rather than local police alone, reflecting the elevated federal posture. CBS Philadelphia reported that students sheltered in place until the all-clear shortly after noon. Lincoln's alumni include Thurgood Marshall and Langston Hughes.

Analysis

Key Findings

Lincoln University, the nation's first degree-granting HBCU (1854), was targeted late in the wave, showing the campaign's persistence over weeks

Federal law enforcement led the campus sweep, reflecting the elevated FBI posture after identifying suspects earlier in the month

The threat came via phone call, consistent with the methods used across the broader campaign

Campus functions resumed by noon, suggesting a relatively efficient sweep process aided by federal resources

Outcome

Federal law enforcement swept the campus and found no threats. Campus functions resumed shortly after noon.

Provenance

Sources

News
Lincoln University latest HBCU targeted by bomb threat -- CBS Philadelphia
cbsnews.com
News
Historically Black colleges say they're undeterred by bomb threats -- NPR
npr.org
News
FBI identifies 6 juveniles as persons of interest in bomb threats at Black colleges -- NBC News
nbcnews.com

Alert Sequence

Background

Key Findings

Sources

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