Bentley University Bomb Threat: Waltham School Reopens

WALTHAM, MA — All Bentley University buildings have been reopened after being cleared by police following a bomb threat, the university said Friday afternoon. An emailed bomb threat had prompted an evacuation of the school hours earlier.

"The campus is safe and secure," an email from Bentley said. Students can return to residence halls and the campus is resuming normal operations. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Waltham Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts like this one.)

Waltham Police and Fire were on site assisting the university.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we have initiated the evacuation orders," said Andrew Shepardson, vice president for student affairs and dean of students.

The administrator said he believed this may be connected to the multiple bomb threats that Waltham has seen recently.

"As I am sure you are aware, this has been an ongoing issue in the City of Waltham and beyond" Shepardson said. "We believe this is a similar false alarm, but we take these situations seriously."

Officials said earlier that buildings that had been evacuated would be reopened after Waltham and Bentley personnel finished inspecting them, and they asked students to let their parents know they were safe.

This has happened before

Last month Waltham saw a significant uptick in the number of bomb threats reported around town, culminating in a day where at least 24 were reported, most directed at schools and public places. On Aug. 23, Bentley evacuated students on account of a similar threat. Police later announced they believed the threats to be hoaxes but still took each call seriously as they investigated.

In July there were seven logged with the Waltham Police, and in August that spiked to 31. So far this month there has only been one bomb threat. Earlier this week on Sept. 13, at 3:16 p.m. police logged a bomb threat was made to the Chapel Hill School on Beaver Street.

At 1:45 p.m, school sent out this alert:

"Subject: Emergency: Campus Bomb Threat EMERGENCY ALERT: Bentley University has received a bomb threat. Threats were received at the following locations. Freshman Dormitories, Smith Technology Center, Falcon Complex, Slade Hall, Jenison Hall, Forest Hall, Lindsay Hall, and Miller Hall."

About 10 minutes later this came:

"EMERGENCY ALERT: Bentley University has received a bomb threat. Threats were received at the following locations. Freshman Dormitories, Smith Technology Center, Falcon Complex, Slade Hall, Jenison Hall, Forest Hall, Lindsay Hall, and Miller Hall. All buildings need to be evacuated at least 500 feet away from all buildings. All students should evacuate to the lower campus. Updates will follow."

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Photos of Bentley University bridge sign and corner by Jenna Fisher/Patch