Campus Alert Archive
AAMU

2:30 AM Bomb Threat to J.F. Drake Library: AAMU Joins the Wave of HBCU Threats That Swept the Nation in Early 2022

ALbomb threatemergency notificationhigh confidence
Confirmed HoaxDetermined to be a hoax. The institutional response is documented because it reveals how the alert system performed under a perceived real threat.

In the early hours of January 31, 2022, Alabama A&M University received an anonymous bomb threat targeting the J.F. Drake Learning Resources Center at 2:30 AM CST, as part of a coordinated national wave of threats against historically Black colleges and universities. The university partnered immediately with the Huntsville Police Department and FBI, and an all-clear was issued before classes opened that morning, with no explosive devices found.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Alabama A&M University
Hbcu · AL
~6,500 studentsAAMU Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 2 verified verbatim

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Verified verbatimWHNT News 19 and WAAY TV 31, quoting the verbatim AAMU Bulldog Alert initial notification on January 31, 2022; also confirmed by 1819 News and AAMU official statement190 chars
Students, faculty, and staff please stay clear of the JF Drake LRC area as the situation is investigated. Please monitor Bulldog Alerts and campus emails for further information and updates.
Verbatim text confirmed by WHNT News 19 and multiple Alabama outlets quoting the AAMU Bulldog Alert; note the omission of the bomb threat phrase itself — the alert directed students away without naming the threat explicitly in this portion
Threat received at 2:30 AM CST on January 31, 2022 targeting the J.F. Drake Learning Resources Center (JF Drake LRC)
University law enforcement immediately partnered with Huntsville Police Department and FBI after the threat was received
The threat was one of dozens targeting historically Black colleges and universities in the early weeks of 2022
ALL CLEARSMS
Verified verbatim1819 News and ABC 33/40 (abc3340.com), quoting the verbatim AAMU Bulldog Alert all-clear notification issued before 8 AM CST on January 31, 2022217 chars
An all clear has been issued for Alabama A&M University. There is no immediate threat to campus, and normal operations may now resume. Please remain safety aware and monitor Bulldog Alerts and AAMU emails for updates.
Verbatim text confirmed by 1819 News and ABC 33/40 in their coverage of the AAMU all-clear; issued before the start of morning classes and offices
All-clear was issued before the start of classes and office hours, with no devices or imminent threat found
University partnered with Huntsville Police and FBI to conduct the sweep
Despite the all-clear, the university issued a statement urging vigilance on and around campus
Context

Background

At 2:30 AM CST on January 31, 2022, Alabama A&M University in Normal, Alabama received an anonymous bomb threat targeting the J.F. Drake Learning Resources Center (JF Drake LRC). University law enforcement immediately notified Huntsville Police and the FBI, and an all-clear was issued before the start of the business day after a complete sweep of campus found no devices or credible threat. The incident was part of a broad national pattern of bomb threats targeting HBCUs that had begun in early January 2022 and escalated in the final days of January and into February. Central Dispatch received the initial alarm from HEMSI after an unknown caller reported bombs placed in certain parts of the campus. An approximately one-hour investigation culminated in the all-clear. Alabama A&M later released a statement acknowledging that "the language used in this message reflects a troubling pattern of similar threats directed at Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the nation." The FBI investigated the threats as a coordinated campaign of racial harassment against HBCU institutions, which collectively received threats against more than one-third of all 101 HBCUs in the country during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Analysis

Key Findings

The threat arrived at 2:30 AM, well before classes began, consistent with the pattern of other HBCU bomb threats that year which often arrived in off-hours
Immediate FBI partnership alongside local Huntsville Police enabled a swift all-clear before the start of the business day
AAMU characterized the threat as part of a 'troubling pattern' targeting HBCUs, confirming awareness of the coordinated nature of the 2022 campaign
No explosive devices were found; the threat was determined to be a hoax, consistent with all other HBCU threats in this wave
Outcome
No explosive devices found. All-clear issued before the start of the business day. Investigation continued with FBI involvement. Alabama A&M became one of dozens of HBCUs targeted in the early 2022 bomb threat campaign, which the FBI investigated as a coordinated pattern of racial harassment.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Alabama A&M issues statement after university received bomb, shooting threat (WHNT)
    whnt.com
  2. News
    HBCUs, including Alabama A&M, undeterred by bomb threats (Rocket City Now)
    rocketcitynow.com
  3. News
    Alabama A&M officials say the university received bomb threats (WBRC)
    wbrc.com
  4. Social
    AAMU Becomes Part of HBCU List - Alabama A&M University
    aamu.edu
Tags
bomb-threathbcuhoaxalabamafbi-investigation2022-hbcu-waveracial-harassmentHoax
Added May 2026Updated June 2026Via ingestion