Campus Alert Archive
ASU

Alabama State Joins Seven-HBCU Lockdown as Coordinated Swatting Emails Strike on September 11

ALswattingemergency notificationmedium 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.

On September 11, 2025, Alabama State University was placed on lockdown alongside at least six other HBCUs after receiving a coordinated swatting email that falsely reported an active threat on campus. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency confirmed the email was a swatting attempt, and the FBI classified all HBCU threats that day as hoaxes. The timing on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the day after the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University amplified anxiety across affected campuses.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
—
Institution
Alabama State University
Hbcu · AL
~4,800 students
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatimUniversity Herald and WSFA quoting verbatim from Alabama State University's official notice606 chars
On behalf of Alabama State University, please be advised that the campus is closed for the remainder of the day, Thursday, September 11, 2025. Campus Police, along with other law enforcement agencies, are actively clearing all buildings on campus. In addition, all campus activities are canceled for today, September 11, 2025. This includes day and evening classes, graduate classes, rehearsals, and all other scheduled events. The John G. Hardy Student Center is closed until further notice. We appreciate your cooperation as we work closely with law enforcement to ensure the safety of our Hornet family.
Quoted verbatim by University Herald and Alabama Reflector from ASU's official September 11, 2025 statement
Notable for closing the entire campus for the day rather than just sheltering in place — a more aggressive response than most other targeted HBCUs that day
The 'Hornet family' phrase reflects ASU's mascot and is characteristic of HBCU presidential communications, which often use community-of-care language
Specifically named the John G. Hardy Student Center as the building of focus — a level of operational detail uncommon in initial alerts
ALEA later confirmed the threat was a swatting email that 'falsely reported an active threat on campus,' not a bomb threat
ALL CLEARmulti-channel
Approximate reconstruction207 chars
ASU ALERT UPDATE: The lockdown has been lifted. Law enforcement has completed their sweep of campus. No threats were found. The FBI has confirmed these were hoax calls. Normal campus operations have resumed.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

The lockdown was lifted after a thorough campus sweep, consistent with the resolution timeline at other affected HBCUs
A second wave of HBCU bomb threats followed later in September 2025, targeting additional institutions
Context

Background

On September 11, 2025, Alabama State University was among at least seven HBCUs placed on lockdown after receiving coordinated hoax threats. ALEA later confirmed the ASU threat was specifically a swatting email that 'falsely reported an active threat on campus', characterizing it as a swatting incident rather than a traditional bomb threat. The timing on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks — and one day after the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10 — added significant anxiety to an already alarming situation. The FBI quickly classified all threats as hoaxes, and Inside Higher Ed reported on the broader pattern of HBCUs being disproportionately targeted. Capital B News documented that all lockdowns were lifted throughout the day; ASU issued the all-clear around 1 PM CDT but kept residential students sheltering in place. The incident was part of an escalating pattern: a UNCF policy brief found that half of the nation's 101 HBCUs had received targeted threats over the preceding three years. A second wave later in September targeted additional HBCUs including Morgan State, Southern University, Delaware State, Prairie View A&M, and Alabama A&M, with threats specifically aimed at university libraries.
Analysis

Key Findings

The threats were timed on the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and one day after the Charlie Kirk assassination at UVU, amplifying fear and anxiety
Alabama State was part of a coordinated campaign targeting at least seven HBCUs simultaneously
ALEA classified the ASU threat specifically as a swatting email — 'falsely reported an active threat on campus' — not a bomb threat
The incident was followed by a second wave later in September targeting additional HBCUs, with threats directed at campus libraries
Outcome
The FBI determined the threat was a hoax. ASU lifted its lockdown after law enforcement completed a sweep of campus. No explosives or threats were found.
Provenance

Sources

  1. national media
    HBCUs under lockdown after receiving threats (CNN)
    cnn.com
  2. national media
    Multiple HBCUs locked down after terroristic threats (Axios)
    axios.com
  3. national media
    Multiple HBCUs Go On Lockdown (Inside Higher Ed)
    insidehighered.com
  4. national media
    HBCU Lockdowns Lifted (Capital B News)
    capitalbnews.org
  5. News
    ALEA: Swatting email behind threat on ASU campus (WAAY TV)
    waaytv.com
  6. national media
    Multiple HBCUs Lock Down; Alabama State Cancels Classes Following 'Swatting' Email (University Herald)
    universityherald.com
  7. national media
    HBCUs Face New Wave of Bomb Threats (Black Press USA)
    blackpressusa.com
Tags
swattinghbcucoordinated-attack9-11-anniversaryfbi-investigationalabamahoax2025-hbcu-wavepost-charlie-kirkswatting-emailHoax
Added April 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion