Feds Warn Of Threats Against Area University

Federal officials warned regional colleges and universities of a threat for Monday that was posted on social media.

The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives sent a warning message to area higher learning institutions Sunday. In response, several universities like Temple in Philadelphia and Delaware Valley in Doylestown sent messages out to students and staff.

The FBI said in a statement they released their warning bulletin “out of an abundance of caution.” They also said that “no specific college or university was identified in the posting.”

The threat comes days after a 26-year-old gunman shot and killed eight students and one professor at Umpqua Community College in Oregon.

Bucks County Community College, which has campuses in Bristol Township, Newtown and Perkasie, said in a statement security is working with local police to “closely monitor the situation.” Their statement also said classes were operate on a normal schedule.

“The alert was provided to students, faculty and staff yesterday afternoon as well as an email from the President sent this morning. Local law enforcement as well as our own security have increased patrols and activities in light of the non-specific threat,” Jendi Korpi, spokesperson for Langhorne Manor-based Cairn University, said.

“While we recognize that this is unsettling announcement, please know that we continue to collaborate with law enforcement, and their expertise, and that your safety is the University’s primary focus,” an email to Delaware Valley University students said.

In 2014, local police and Cairn University held an active shooter drill to prepare for the worse case scenario.

The FBI asks the public to always reported suspicious activity to law enforcement.