{
  "id": "2025-09-11-spelman-college-hbcu-threat",
  "slug": "spelman-college-hbcu-threat-2025-09-11",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Spelman College",
    "shortName": "Spelman",
    "state": "GA",
    "type": "hbcu",
    "alertSystemName": "Spelman ALERT",
    "enrollment": 2300
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2025-09-11",
    "type": "bomb-threat",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "confirmed-hoax",
    "headline": "Precautionary shelter-in-place as neighboring HBCUs received hoax threats",
    "headlinePublic": "Precautionary shelter-in-place as neighboring HBCUs received hoax threats",
    "summary": "On September 11, 2025, Spelman College issued a [shelter-in-place order](https://www.spelman.edu/alerts/alerts/2025/09/09112025-spelman-alert-shelter-in-place.html) as a precaution after nearby Clark Atlanta University and other HBCUs across the country received terroristic threats. Although [no threats were made directly to Spelman](https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/spelman-college-sheltering-in-place-after-threats-received-at-hbcus/85-605a9386-c984-43c2-9d3a-a098cf4a923e), the college heightened security and told its community to shelter in place due to its proximity to Clark Atlanta University.",
    "outcome": "The shelter-in-place was lifted around 2:00 PM EDT. The FBI determined the threats to be hoax calls with no credible danger. Normal campus operations resumed later that day.",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 0,
      "injured": 0
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2025-09-11T12:15:00-04:00",
      "timestampApprox": "12:15 PM EDT on September 11, 2025",
      "channel": "push-notification",
      "verbatimText": "Spelman ALERT:\n\nWe are aware of threats received today by several HBCU’s, including Clark Atlanta University here in the AUC. Clark CAU is currently under a shelter a place advisory. Out of precaution, and our close proximity to CAU, we are asking Spelman faculty, staff and students to shelter in place and stay clear of CAU campus until further notice.\n\nAt this time, no threats have been received on Spelman’s campus. However, in response to other threats, we have heightened security presence on campus and at our two main entrances.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.spelman.edu/alerts/alerts/2025/09/09112025-shelter-in-place.html",
      "sourceDescription": "Spelman College official alerts archive (verbatim shelter-in-place)",
      "annotations": [
        "Posted to Spelman College's official alerts archive at 12:15 PM EDT on September 11, 2025",
        "Notable for the typo 'shelter a place' instead of 'shelter in place', preserved verbatim",
        "Spelman itself received no direct threat but sheltered due to proximity to Clark Atlanta University in the Atlanta University Center"
      ],
      "characterCount": 537
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "timestamp": "2025-09-11T13:55:00-04:00",
      "timestampApprox": "1:55 PM EDT on September 11, 2025",
      "channel": "push-notification",
      "verbatimText": "Spelman ALERT:\n\nThe shelter in place at Spelman College has been lifted. Please remain alert, and if you see anything suspicious, report it immediately.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.spelman.edu/alerts/alerts/2025/09/09112025-spelman-alert-all-clear.html",
      "sourceDescription": "Spelman College official alerts archive (verbatim all clear)",
      "annotations": [
        "Corrected truncated confirmed text to full Spelman ALERT body from official alerts archive",
        "Prior confirmed text omitted \"Spelman ALERT:\" prefix and second sentence about remaining alert",
        "Archive page posted September 11, 2025 @ 01:55 PM"
      ],
      "characterCount": 152
    }
  ],
  "context": "On September 11, 2025, multiple historically Black colleges and universities across the country were placed on lockdown after receiving [terroristic threats](https://www.ajc.com/education/2025/09/atlanta-hbcus-issue-shelter-in-place-order-after-threats/). In the Atlanta University Center, Clark Atlanta University received a direct threat and issued a shelter-in-place order. Spelman College and Morehouse College, which share the AUC campus, [issued their own shelter-in-place orders](https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/spelman-college-sheltering-in-place-after-threats-received-at-hbcus/85-605a9386-c984-43c2-9d3a-a098cf4a923e) out of precaution due to their close proximity to Clark Atlanta. Spelman confirmed it had not received any direct threats but heightened security at its main entrances. The [FBI later deemed the threats a hoax](https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/spelman-college-clark-atlanta-university-under-shelter-in-place-orders/RNVZDCKHRBFH7J3RFC5INTOXHA/), stating there was no credible threat to any campus. At least seven HBCUs in five states were affected that day, including Alabama State University, Hampton University, Virginia State University, Southern University, and Bethune-Cookman University.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Spelman sheltered in place despite receiving no direct threat, demonstrating how proximity to a targeted institution triggers precautionary lockdowns",
    "The September 11 HBCU threats were part of a recurring pattern dating back to January 2022 bomb threat waves targeting historically Black institutions",
    "The shelter-in-place lasted approximately an hour and 40 minutes before the FBI determined the threats were hoax calls"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Spelman ALERT: Shelter in Place (Spelman College)",
      "url": "https://www.spelman.edu/alerts/alerts/2025/09/09112025-spelman-alert-shelter-in-place.html",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Spelman ALERT: All Clear (Spelman College)",
      "url": "https://www.spelman.edu/alerts/alerts/2025/09/09112025-spelman-alert-all-clear.html",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Clark Atlanta, Spelman College lift shelter-in-place order among HBCUs investigating threats (11Alive)",
      "url": "https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/spelman-college-sheltering-in-place-after-threats-received-at-hbcus/85-605a9386-c984-43c2-9d3a-a098cf4a923e",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University under shelter-in-place orders (WSB-TV)",
      "url": "https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/spelman-college-clark-atlanta-university-under-shelter-in-place-orders/RNVZDCKHRBFH7J3RFC5INTOXHA/",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.spelman.edu/alerts/alerts/2025/09/09112025-shelter-in-place.html",
      "type": "official-archive",
      "title": "Spelman ALERT: Shelter in Place (Sept 11, 2025)"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "hbcu",
    "bomb-threat",
    "shelter-in-place",
    "hoax",
    "georgia",
    "coordinated-threat",
    "september-11",
    "atlanta-university-center"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-03",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-18",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}