Campus Alert Archive
IU

'I Have a Bomb': An Elevator Announcement at Forest Quad Triggers a K-9 Search the Night Before Halloween

INbomb threatemergency 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 the evening of October 30, 2024, IU Police responded to reports of a male voice shouting 'I have a bomb' in the elevator at Indiana University's Forest Quad dormitory just before 9:30 PM EDT. An explosive detection K-9 was deployed to search the building. The threat was determined to be a false alarm, and a student was charged with intimidation, a Level 6 felony.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
—
Injured
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Institution
Indiana University Bloomington
Public R1 · IN
~47,000 studentsIU Notify
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

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 ALERTPush
Approximate reconstruction181 chars
IU ALERT: IUPD responding to a reported bomb threat at Forest Quad. K-9 unit is on scene. Residents should follow instructions from officers. Avoid Forest Quad until further notice.

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

Reconstructed from WBIW reporting; IUPD officers responded just before 9:30 PM EDT after multiple students reported hearing a male voice in the elevator shouting about a bomb
An IUPD explosive detection K-9 was deployed to search the dormitory
The incident occurred the night before Halloween at a residence hall
ALL CLEARPush
Approximate reconstruction185 chars
IU ALERT UPDATE: All clear at Forest Quad. IUPD K-9 unit has completed a search of the building. No explosive devices found. A suspect has been identified. Normal operations may resume.

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

Reconstructed from WBIW coverage of the incident
The suspect, Hamish Sievers-Banks, was later charged with intimidation, a Level 6 felony
The K-9 search confirmed no explosive devices were present in the dormitory
Context

Background

On the evening of October 30, 2024, Indiana University Police Department officers responded to Forest Quad dormitory just before 9:30 PM EDT after multiple students reported hearing a male voice in the elevator shouting 'I have a bomb.' An IUPD explosive detection K-9 was deployed to systematically search the dormitory. The search found no explosive devices, and the threat was determined to be a false alarm. The suspect, Hamish Sievers-Banks, was identified and charged with intimidation, a Level 6 felony in Indiana, for making a threat to commit a forcible felony. The incident occurred the night before Halloween, adding to the anxiety among dormitory residents. IU Bloomington has invested in K-9 explosive detection capabilities following a suspicious device incident on campus in April 2024, demonstrating the ongoing need for rapid bomb threat response at major university campuses.
Analysis

Key Findings

The threat was made verbally in a dormitory elevator, an unusual delivery method compared to the more common phone or email bomb threats
IUPD's K-9 explosive detection unit responded immediately, demonstrating the value of on-campus bomb detection resources
The suspect faced a Level 6 felony charge, illustrating that even 'joking' bomb threats carry serious criminal consequences
Outcome
The threat was determined to be a false alarm after the K-9 search found nothing. Hamish Sievers-Banks was charged with intimidation, a Level 6 felony, for making a threat to commit a forcible felony.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    IU student faces felony charge after making bomb threat statement in dorm elevator (WBIW)
    wbiw.com
  2. Student Paper
    IU, Bloomington Police assist with school bomb threat in Ellettsville (IU Student Television)
    iustv.com
Tags
bomb-threathoaxindianadormitoryverbal-threatk-9-responsearrestfelony-chargeHoax
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion