Dillard University becomes third Louisiana HBCU to receive bomb threat

NEW ORLEANS — Dillard University closed its Gentilly campus after receiving a bomb threat Friday morning, campus officials announced on social media.

Dillard University has received a bomb threat. Several law enforcement agencies have been notified and are investigating the threat on campus. The campus will be closed for the remainder of the day. #myDU #FairDillard pic.twitter.com/1hxuLn5sSc

— Dillard University (@du1869) February 25, 2022

There was no update on the threat as of 5 p.m. Friday.

Two HBCUs in Virginia also reported bomb threats Friday, including the second so far at Norfolk State University, according to WVEC-TV.

Deeply saddened to hear of another bomb threat at an HBCU, this time at @Norfolkstate here in Hampton Roads. Praying for the safety of students and staff.

— Rep. Elaine Luria (@RepElaineLuria) February 25, 2022

Dillard is the third historically Black university in Louisiana to receive a bomb threat and one of several Black institutions nationwide that have been targets of what the FBI has classified as hate crimes. Xavier University in New Orleans and the main campus of Southern University in Baton Rouge also reported threats earlier this month. As with other cases around the country, law enforcement found no evidence of explosives.

The FBI has said it considers the incidents “racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism.” More than 20 of its field offices are involved in the investigation.