{
  "id": "2015-12-14-san-bernardino-valley-college-bomb-threat",
  "slug": "san-bernardino-valley-college-bomb-threat-2015-12-14",
  "institution": {
    "name": "San Bernardino Valley College",
    "shortName": "SBVC",
    "state": "CA",
    "type": "community-college",
    "alertSystemName": "SBVC Alert",
    "enrollment": 13000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2015-12-14",
    "type": "bomb-threat",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "headline": "Bomb threat forces campus evacuation; determined to be a hoax within 30 minutes",
    "headlinePublic": "Bomb threat forces campus evacuation; determined to be a hoax within 30 minutes",
    "summary": "On December 14, 2015, [San Bernardino Valley College](https://ktla.com/2015/12/14/san-bernardino-valley-college-asks-people-to-immediately-leave-campus-due-to-threat/) received a bomb threat that forced an immediate campus evacuation at approximately 5:30 PM PST. The threat came just 12 days after the [December 2, 2015 terrorist attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_San_Bernardino_attack) at the nearby Inland Regional Center that killed 14 people. Police determined the threat was a hoax within 30 minutes, but the campus remained closed through December 15.",
    "outcome": "The bomb threat was determined to be a hoax. No explosive devices were found after a thorough search. Campus reopened on December 16, 2015.",
    "resolution": "confirmed-hoax",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 0,
      "injured": 0
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2015-12-14T17:30:00-08:00",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceUrl": "https://ktla.com/news/local-news/san-bernardino-valley-college-asks-people-to-immediately-leave-campus-due-to-threat/",
      "sourceDescription": "KTLA, quoting the SBVC campus tweet (also quoted verbatim by the Washington Post)",
      "annotations": []
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "update",
      "timestampApprox": "Approximately 6:00 PM PST on December 14, 2015",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "ALERT: Campus is closed until further notice. Please stay tuned for more info soon.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceDescription": "@sbvalleycollege on X (verbatim campus closed)",
      "annotations": [
        "San Bernardino police confirmed within 30 minutes that the bomb threat was a hoax, but the campus remained closed as a precaution given the heightened security environment after the December 2 attack"
      ],
      "characterCount": 83,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/sbvalleycollege/status/676578395321319424",
      "timestamp": "2015-12-14T17:43:54-08:00"
    },
    {
      "sequence": 3,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "timestampApprox": "Midday PST on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, when school officials announced campus would reopen the next day",
      "channel": "twitter-x",
      "verbatimText": "SBCCD Police has cleared campus for reopening on Wednesday, December 16. Final exams will resume as scheduled on Wednesday.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceDescription": "@sbvalleycollege on X (verbatim reopening clear)",
      "annotations": [
        "Although San Bernardino Police determined the threat was a hoax within about 30 minutes (by approximately 6:00 p.m. PST on December 14), the campus remained closed all day on Tuesday, December 15, with the announcement of reopening made midday Tuesday, reflecting the extreme caution in the community following the December 2 mass shooting"
      ],
      "characterCount": 123,
      "sourceUrl": "https://x.com/sbvalleycollege/status/676810052116701184",
      "timestamp": "2015-12-15T09:04:25-08:00"
    }
  ],
  "context": "The bomb threat at San Bernardino Valley College occurred in an atmosphere of intense fear and heightened security following the [December 2, 2015 terrorist attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_San_Bernardino_attack) at the Inland Regional Center, which killed 14 people and injured 22 others just 12 days earlier. SBVC is located approximately 2 miles from the Inland Regional Center. The [Washington Post reported](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/12/15/college-in-san-bernardino-closed-after-threat/) that the college remained closed through December 15 even after police determined the bomb threat was not credible. The [KTLA coverage](https://ktla.com/2015/12/14/san-bernardino-valley-college-asks-people-to-immediately-leave-campus-due-to-threat/) noted that the San Bernardino Community College District Police conducted a thorough campus search before allowing reopening on December 16. The incident illustrates how community trauma from nearby mass violence events amplifies the impact of subsequent threats on educational institutions, particularly community colleges that serve local populations most directly affected by such events.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "The bomb threat came just 12 days after the December 2, 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack that killed 14 people approximately 2 miles away, amplifying community fear",
    "Despite being deemed a hoax within 30 minutes, the campus stayed closed for nearly two days, reflecting the trauma-driven caution in the community",
    "Community colleges serve local populations who are most directly impacted by nearby mass violence events",
    "The use of Twitter as a primary alert channel for an evening evacuation shows the evolving role of social media in campus emergency communication"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "San Bernardino Valley College to Remain Closed Day After 'Hoax' Bomb Threat - KTLA",
      "url": "https://ktla.com/news/local-news/san-bernardino-valley-college-asks-people-to-immediately-leave-campus-due-to-threat/",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "College in San Bernardino cleared to reopen Wednesday, after bomb threat deemed not credible - Washington Post",
      "url": "https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/12/15/college-in-san-bernardino-closed-after-threat/",
      "type": "national-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "San Bernardino Valley College reopens after possible bomb threat was made - KSNV",
      "url": "https://news3lv.com/news/nation-world/san-bernardino-valley-college-reopens-after-possible-bomb-threat-was-made",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "2015 San Bernardino attack - Wikipedia",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_San_Bernardino_attack",
      "type": "reference"
    },
    {
      "type": "official-social",
      "title": "@sbvalleycollege on X (verbatim campus closed)",
      "url": "https://x.com/sbvalleycollege/status/676578395321319424",
      "accessedDate": "2026-07-18"
    },
    {
      "type": "official-social",
      "title": "@sbvalleycollege on X (verbatim reopening clear)",
      "url": "https://x.com/sbvalleycollege/status/676810052116701184",
      "accessedDate": "2026-07-18"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "medium",
  "tags": [
    "bomb-threat",
    "community-college",
    "hoax",
    "california",
    "post-terrorism-fear",
    "campus-closure"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-04-04",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-20",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}