{
  "id": "2023-10-24-oregon-state-university-bomb-threat",
  "slug": "oregon-state-university-bomb-threat-2023-10-24",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Oregon State University",
    "shortName": "OSU",
    "state": "OR",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "OSU Alert",
    "enrollment": 34000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2023-10-24",
    "type": "bomb-threat",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "confirmed-hoax",
    "headline": "Bomb threat against food delivery robots; fleet isolated and a student arrested",
    "headlinePublic": "Bomb threat against food delivery robots; fleet isolated and a student arrested",
    "summary": "On October 24, 2023, Oregon State University issued an urgent alert warning students to [avoid all food delivery robots](https://www.foxnews.com/us/oregon-state-university-warns-students-avoid-robots-amid-bomb-threat-with-starship-delivery-robots) after receiving a bomb threat targeting the Starship Technologies fleet on the Corvallis campus. The [threat proved to be a prank](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oregon-state-university-warns-avoid-robots-bomb-threat-involving-food-rcna121991) posted on social media by a student who was subsequently arrested.",
    "outcome": "All robots were remotely isolated and inspected by a bomb-detection K-9 unit; no explosives were found. A student, Ted Daniel Stock, was arrested in connection with the threat. Starship suspended campus service following the incident."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2023-10-24T12:20:46-07:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "Urgent OSU Alert: Bomb Threat in Starship food delivery robots. Do not open robots. Avoid all robots until further notice. Public Safety is responding.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/OregonState/status/1716897541080650171",
      "sourceDescription": "@OregonState on X (official initial alert)",
      "annotations": [
        "Character-perfect official X status 1716897541080650171."
      ],
      "characterCount": 151
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2023-10-24T12:59:04-07:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "Bomb Threat update: Remotely isolating robots in a safe location. DPS continuing the investigation. Remain vigilant for suspicious activity.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/OregonState/status/1716907179578691853",
      "sourceDescription": "@OregonState on X (isolation update)",
      "annotations": [
        "Character-perfect official X status 1716907179578691853."
      ],
      "characterCount": 140
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2023-10-24T13:23:30-07:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "Bomb Threat update: Robots are being investigated by technician. Stay vigilant and report any incident related information to 737-7000.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/OregonState/status/1716913325932740632",
      "sourceDescription": "@OregonState on X (technician update)",
      "annotations": [
        "Character-perfect official X status 1716913325932740632. Phone 737-7000 is DPS tip line as published."
      ],
      "characterCount": 135
    },
    {
      "sequence": 4,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "timestamp": "2023-10-24T13:39:43-07:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "Emergency is over. All Clear. You may now resume normal activities. Robot inspection continues in a safe location.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/OregonState/status/1716917407607054407",
      "sourceDescription": "@OregonState on X (official all-clear)",
      "annotations": [
        "Character-perfect official X status 1716917407607054407. Replaces prior incomplete NBC-cited string."
      ],
      "characterCount": 114
    },
    {
      "sequence": 5,
      "type": "update",
      "timestamp": "2023-10-24T15:54:55-07:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "All robots have been inspected and cleared. They will be back in service by 4pm today.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/OregonState/status/1716951432019243325",
      "sourceDescription": "@OregonState on X (fleet return-to-service)",
      "annotations": [
        "Character-perfect official X status 1716951432019243325."
      ],
      "characterCount": 86
    }
  ],
  "context": "At 11:51 AM PDT on October 24, 2023, the OSU Department of Public Safety received a report indicating an [improvised explosive device would be placed in a Starship Technologies food delivery robot](https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/oregon-state-university-bomb-threat-food-delivery-robots/283-22a24f2e-e1da-45d6-982e-72aff0cf056d) on the Corvallis campus. The university issued an alert at 12:20 PM PDT telling students to avoid all robots and not open them. Out of an abundance of caution, Public Safety began [remotely isolating robots](https://kval.com/news/local/bomb-threat-detected-in-starship-food-delivery-robots-at-osu-public-safety-is-responding) in a safe location for inspection by a law enforcement dog trained in bomb detection. By 1:52 PM PDT, all robots had been inspected and no explosive devices were found. The [threat was determined to be a prank](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oregon-state-university-warns-avoid-robots-bomb-threat-involving-food-rcna121991) posted on social media by a student. The suspect, identified as Ted Daniel Stock, was taken into police custody. Starship Technologies [suspended its campus delivery service](https://edscoop.com/oregon-state-bomb-threat-food-delivery-robots-starship/) following the incident. The unusual nature of the threat, targeting autonomous delivery robots rather than a building, generated widespread national media coverage.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "The threat targeted autonomous food delivery robots rather than buildings, representing a novel category of campus bomb threat",
    "All robots were remotely isolated and cleared by a K-9 unit within approximately two hours of the initial report",
    "The incident generated national media attention due to the unusual 'avoid all robots' advisory"
  ],
  "responseTimeMinutes": 29,
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Urgent OSU Alert tweet (Oregon State University official X account)",
      "url": "https://x.com/OregonState/status/1716897541080650171",
      "type": "official-social"
    },
    {
      "title": "1 arrested following bomb threat in food delivery robots at Oregon State University (KGW)",
      "url": "https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/oregon-state-university-bomb-threat-food-delivery-robots/283-22a24f2e-e1da-45d6-982e-72aff0cf056d",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Bomb threat involving food delivery robots at Oregon State University proved to be a prank (NBC News)",
      "url": "https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oregon-state-university-warns-avoid-robots-bomb-threat-involving-food-rcna121991",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "OSU student arrested after bomb threat investigation into food delivery robots (KVAL)",
      "url": "https://kval.com/news/local/bomb-threat-detected-in-starship-food-delivery-robots-at-osu-public-safety-is-responding",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "@OregonState on X (isolation update)",
      "url": "https://x.com/OregonState/status/1716907179578691853",
      "type": "other"
    },
    {
      "title": "@OregonState on X (technician update)",
      "url": "https://x.com/OregonState/status/1716913325932740632",
      "type": "other"
    },
    {
      "title": "@OregonState on X (official all-clear)",
      "url": "https://x.com/OregonState/status/1716917407607054407",
      "type": "other"
    },
    {
      "title": "@OregonState on X (fleet return-to-service)",
      "url": "https://x.com/OregonState/status/1716951432019243325",
      "type": "other"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "bomb-threat",
    "hoax",
    "delivery-robots",
    "starship",
    "oregon",
    "novel-threat",
    "social-media",
    "prank",
    "verbatim-confirmed"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-03",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-20",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}