University of Utah investigates potential bomb threat at Black Cultural Center

SALT LAKE CITY— The University of Utah investigated a potential bomb threat after a crisis line in Hollywood, California received a tip that a bomb had been placed at the Black Cultural Center in Fort Douglas. Officers immediately looked into the threat at 4:25 a.m. checking the building with bomb sniffing dogs, but no evidence of a bomb was detected.

The building was determined unoccupied, no bomb was found, and the building was secured by officers. According to a statement from the University of Utah, similar threats had been made against other universities across the country and that this threat came only a week after bomb scares targeted eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country.

Statement from @UofUPolice:

University of Utah Police are investigating reports of a bomb threat against our Black Cultural Center this morning (01/11/22) deliberately, but also with urgency, to determine the person or persons responsible and hold them accountable.

— University of Utah (@UUtah) January 11, 2022

The University responded saying, “The University of Utah is not a haven for this kind of hateful and biased thinking and attacks, and university leaders have committed to completing a thorough review with actionable steps to be implemented during the spring semester. This assault on the security of our Black students, faculty and staff requires sensitivity, compassion and timely action. We will provide more information as it becomes available. The incident was also reported to the Racist & Bias Incident Response Team (RBIRT).”