{
  "id": "2019-09-06-michigan-state-university-bomb-threat",
  "slug": "michigan-state-university-bomb-threat-2019-09-06",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Michigan State University",
    "shortName": "MSU",
    "state": "MI",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "MSU Alert",
    "enrollment": 50000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2019-09-06",
    "type": "bomb-threat",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "confirmed-hoax",
    "headline": "Phoned-in bomb threat empties the administration building; about 400 people evacuated",
    "headlinePublic": "Phoned-in bomb threat empties the administration building; about 400 people evacuated",
    "summary": "On September 6, 2019, Michigan State University received a [bomb threat phoned into police dispatch at approximately 10:45 AM EDT](https://www.wlns.com/news/michigan/bomb-threat-forces-evacuation-at-msu/) targeting the Hannah Administration Building, where the university's new president and Board of Trustees had met earlier that day. MSU Police posted an evacuation message to Facebook at 10:59 AM EDT, and the formal [campus-wide MSU Alert was sent to students at 11:23 AM EDT](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/09/06/bomb-threat-reported-michigan-state-university-campus/2231908001/). Approximately 400 people were evacuated. Police cleared and reopened the building at 12:45 PM EDT after finding no suspicious materials.",
    "outcome": "No suspicious materials were found. Approximately 400 people were evacuated from the Hannah Administration Building. The building was cleared and reopened at 12:45 PM EDT and normal operations resumed."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2019-09-06T11:12:35-04:00",
      "channel": "multi-channel",
      "verbatimText": "Bomb Threat\n\nThis is an MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police regarding an incident on the East Lansing campus.\n\nA person reported a bomb threat at or near Administration Hannah Building. We are asking you to evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately and report any unattended packages, suspicious activity or persons to Michigan State University Police. Monitor local media for more information. Sent at 10:59:25 on 09-06-2019. Today’s Date: 09-06-2019 Current Time: 11:12:26 Campus Area: on the East Lansing campus Police Agency: Michigan State University Police Specific Location: Administration Hannah Building",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://alert.msu.edu/alert-issued-at-09-06-2019-111235-am-edt/",
      "sourceDescription": "MSU Alert archive (alert.msu.edu) — Hannah bomb threat initial",
      "annotations": [
        "Corrected to full official MSU Alert archive text (initial Hannah bomb threat).",
        "MSU Police posted this exact message on its Facebook page at 10:59 a.m. EDT on September 6, 2019",
        "The bomb threat was received via phone call at approximately 10:45 AM EDT, putting the public-facing alert about 14 minutes after the initial report"
      ],
      "characterCount": 638
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2019-09-06T11:23:18-04:00",
      "channel": "multi-channel",
      "verbatimText": "Bomb Threat This is an MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police regarding an incident on the East Lansing campus. A person reported a bomb threat at or near Administration Hannah Building. We are asking you to evacuate Administration Hannah Building immediately and report any unattended packages, suspicious activity or persons to Michigan State University Police. Monitor local media for more information. Sent at 11:23:18 on 09-06-2019. Today’s Date: 09-06-2019 Current Time: 11:23:42 Campus Area: on the East Lansing campus Police Agency: Michigan State University Police Specific Location: Administration Hannah Building",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://alert.msu.edu/alert-issued-at-09-06-2019-112350-am-edt/",
      "sourceDescription": "MSU Alert official archive (verbatim re-issue ~11 min after initial)",
      "annotations": [
        "Re-issued bomb threat evacuation notice with updated Sent-at clock; body nearly identical to initial 10:59 send"
      ],
      "characterCount": 636
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "timestamp": "2019-09-06T12:39:25-04:00",
      "channel": "multi-channel",
      "verbatimText": "MSU Alert\n\nThis is an MSU ALERT from the Michigan State University Police Department regarding an incident on the East Lansing campus.\n\nAt or near Administration Hannah Building the Michigan State University Police report;\n\nThe Michigan State University Police Department is continuing to investigate the bomb threat. At this time the occupants of the building can return and resume normal operations. If you have any information related to the incident please contact the Michigan State University Police Department. Sent at 12:37:32 on 09-06-2019",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceDescription": "MSU Alert archive (alert.msu.edu) — Hannah bomb threat all-clear",
      "annotations": [
        "Exact all-clear from official MSU Alert archive.",
        "Sent at 12:37 p.m. EDT on September 6, 2019, about 1 hour 38 minutes after the initial alert",
        "Detroit News reported the alert said the investigation was continuing, but people could return to the building and 'resume normal operations'"
      ],
      "characterCount": 548,
      "sourceUrl": "https://alert.msu.edu/alert-issued-at-09-06-2019-123925-pm-edt/"
    }
  ],
  "context": "On September 6, 2019, Michigan State University Police received a [bomb threat via phone call at approximately 10:45 AM EDT](https://www.wlns.com/news/michigan/bomb-threat-forces-evacuation-at-msu/), reporting a bomb at or near the Hannah Administration Building, the university's main administrative hub. The campus alert was sent to students at 11:23 AM EDT, approximately 38 minutes after the threat was received. About [400 people were evacuated from the building](https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/09/06/bomb-threat-reported-michigan-state-university-campus/2231908001/) while police conducted a thorough search. MSU spokeswoman Emily Guerrant confirmed that [no suspicious materials were found in the building](https://www.fox17online.com/2019/09/06/building-evacuated-after-bomb-threat-reported-at-msu), and [the building was cleared and reopened at 12:45 PM EDT](https://www.wkar.org/education/2019-09-06/msus-hannah-admin-building-re-opened-after-bomb-threat-evacuations), with normal operations resuming.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "MSU Police posted an evacuation message to Facebook 14 minutes after the 10:45 AM EDT threat (10:59 AM EDT); the formal campus-wide MSU Alert to students followed at 11:23 AM EDT, a 38-minute gap",
    "Approximately 400 people were evacuated from the Hannah Administration Building, MSU's main administrative center",
    "The threat was determined to be a hoax after a thorough search found no suspicious materials",
    "The incident highlighted the operational disruption caused by hoax bomb threats at large universities"
  ],
  "responseTimeMinutes": 14,
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "MSU Alert — Hannah Administration Building reopened after bomb threat",
      "url": "https://alert.msu.edu/alert-issued-at-09-06-2019-123925-pm-edt/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "MSU Alert — Bomb Threat at Hannah Administration Building",
      "url": "https://alert.msu.edu/alert-issued-at-09-06-2019-111235-am-edt/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Bomb threat forces evacuation at MSU (WLNS)",
      "url": "https://www.wlns.com/news/michigan/bomb-threat-forces-evacuation-at-msu/",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "MSU's Hannah Building reopened after bomb threat (Detroit News)",
      "url": "https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/09/06/bomb-threat-reported-michigan-state-university-campus/2231908001/",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Bomb threat prompts evacuation at MSU (FOX 17)",
      "url": "https://www.fox17online.com/2019/09/06/building-evacuated-after-bomb-threat-reported-at-msu",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "MSU's Hannah Admin Building Re-opened After Bomb Threat and Evacuations (WKAR)",
      "url": "https://www.wkar.org/education/2019-09-06/msus-hannah-admin-building-re-opened-after-bomb-threat-evacuations",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "MSU Alert archive — bomb threat re-issue 11:23",
      "url": "https://alert.msu.edu/alert-issued-at-09-06-2019-112350-am-edt/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "bomb-threat",
    "hoax",
    "michigan",
    "public-r1",
    "evacuation",
    "administration-building"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-02",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-18",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}