DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Bethune-Cookman University is one of six historically Black colleges to have received a bomb threat Monday.
At a news conference on Monday afternoon, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said a man, claiming to be part of the “Neo-Nazi organization Atomwaffen,” called into emergency dispatch around 4:30 a.m., detailing his threats to the dispatcher for about 20 minutes.
Young said the caller claimed to have planted seven explosive devices around Bethune-Cookman’s campus, describing them as being disguised in duffel bags and backpacks. The caller also claimed there was going to be an active shooting on campus around noon, according to the police department.
Police immediately put the campus on lockdown and searched each building, but found nothing.
The threat comes after an anti-Semitic demonstration occurred over the weekend in Orange County.
“From what we can tell, it is a Neo-Nazi organization going by the name Atomwaffen, so yes, I don’t know if it’s connected to what took place in Orlando, but it does have the affiliation to the Neo-Nazi organization,” Young stated during the news conference.
Daytona Beach Police is now working with the FBI and other agencies to investigate these threats. Threats to historically Black colleges started around January 4th.
Young would not comment on whether the other threats nationwide were from the same Neo-Nazi organization, deferring to the FBI.
Police will continue to have a heavy police presence on campus.This is a developing story and more information will be provided once available.