{
  "id": "2024-11-03-university-of-connecticut-waterbury-bomb-threat",
  "slug": "university-of-connecticut-waterbury-bomb-threat-2024-11-03",
  "institution": {
    "name": "University of Connecticut",
    "shortName": "UConn",
    "state": "CT",
    "type": "public-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "UConnALERT",
    "enrollment": 32000
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2024-11-03",
    "type": "bomb-threat",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "unfounded",
    "headline": "Sunday bomb threat during a statewide wave of calls; determined noncredible",
    "headlinePublic": "Sunday bomb threat during a statewide wave of calls; determined noncredible",
    "summary": "On November 3, 2024, the Waterbury Police Department received a [bomb threat directed at UConn's Waterbury campus](https://whus.org/2024/11/connecticut-bomb-threat-issue-reaches-uconn-waterbury-campus/). UConnALERT notified the community at 10:55 AM EST to avoid the area while UConn and Connecticut State Police investigated. The threat was [determined to be noncredible](https://dailycampus.com/2024/11/08/bomb-threat-at-uconn-waterbury-not-credible-spokesperson-says/), and the all-clear was issued at 1:31 PM EST.",
    "outcome": "The threat was determined to be noncredible after investigation by UConn Police and Connecticut State Police. The campus was closed on Sundays, so no academic operations were disrupted. The incident was part of a broader wave of bomb threats across Connecticut.",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 0,
      "injured": 0
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2024-11-03T10:55:00-05:00",
      "channel": "sms",
      "verbatimText": "UConnALERT: There is an ongoing investigation at the Waterbury campus. Avoid the area and stay alert.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://whus.org/2024/11/connecticut-bomb-threat-issue-reaches-uconn-waterbury-campus/",
      "sourceDescription": "WHUS Radio and Daily Campus both directly quoted this UConnALERT text verbatim ('the message said') as the 10:55 AM EST alert on November 3, 2024",
      "annotations": [
        "Verbatim text confirmed across multiple outlets: WHUS Radio and The Daily Campus directly quoted the alert body ('the message said'); Hearst newspaper chain (Milford Mirror, Shelton Herald, Trumbull Times) reproduced the same quote independently",
        "The alert was sent at 10:55 AM EST on November 3, 2024, a Sunday when the Waterbury campus was closed for regular operations",
        "The message directed the community to avoid the area without specifying the nature of the threat"
      ],
      "characterCount": 101
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "timestamp": "2024-11-03T13:31:00-05:00",
      "channel": "sms",
      "verbatimText": "",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": false,
      "sourceDescription": "WHUS Radio and Daily Campus reporting",
      "annotations": []
    }
  ],
  "context": "On Sunday morning, November 3, 2024, the Waterbury Police Department received a [bomb threat by phone directed at UConn's Waterbury campus](https://whus.org/2024/11/connecticut-bomb-threat-issue-reaches-uconn-waterbury-campus/). UConn's emergency notification system sent email and text alerts at 10:55 AM EST informing the community of an ongoing investigation and directing people to avoid the area. UConn Police and Connecticut State Police responded to investigate, and through inspection the threat was [found to be noncredible](https://dailycampus.com/2024/11/08/bomb-threat-at-uconn-waterbury-not-credible-spokesperson-says/). The all-clear was issued at 1:31 PM EST. According to [WFSB](https://www.wfsb.com/2024/11/03/multiple-bomb-threats-investigated-across-ct/), similar bomb threats were issued across Connecticut on the same day, suggesting a coordinated wave of noncredible threats. Because the Waterbury campus is closed on Sundays, no classes or campus activities were disrupted.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "The bomb threat was part of a broader wave of noncredible threats targeting institutions across Connecticut on the same day",
    "The alert-to-all-clear cycle lasted approximately 2 hours and 36 minutes",
    "The Sunday timing meant the campus was already closed, minimizing disruption to students and staff"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Connecticut Bomb Threat Issue Reaches UConn Waterbury Campus (WHUS Radio)",
      "url": "https://whus.org/2024/11/connecticut-bomb-threat-issue-reaches-uconn-waterbury-campus/",
      "type": "student-newspaper"
    },
    {
      "title": "Bomb threat at UConn Waterbury not credible, spokesperson says (The Daily Campus)",
      "url": "https://dailycampus.com/2024/11/08/bomb-threat-at-uconn-waterbury-not-credible-spokesperson-says/",
      "type": "student-newspaper"
    },
    {
      "title": "Multiple bomb threats investigated across CT (WFSB)",
      "url": "https://www.wfsb.com/2024/11/03/multiple-bomb-threats-investigated-across-ct/",
      "type": "local-media"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "medium",
  "tags": [
    "bomb-threat",
    "connecticut",
    "noncredible-threat",
    "wave-of-threats",
    "satellite-campus",
    "public-university"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-05-03",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-16",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}