NEW YORK – The New York Police Department (NYPD) responded to a bomb threat at Barnard College’s Milstein Center on Wednesday, leading to a temporary evacuation before police confirmed there was no active threat.
According to a post on X (formerly Twitter), NYPD officers arrived at the scene just before 5 p.m. ET and ordered the building to be cleared immediately.
“Anyone who refuses to leave the location is subject to arrest. Please stay away from the area,” the NYPD advisory stated.
By 8 p.m., the NYPD announced via social media that the area had been swept and deemed safe.
“The bomb threat incident at Barnard College has been investigated and cleared,” the department confirmed. “There is currently no threat to the public. Please continue to avoid the area and expect traffic delays.”
Protests and Disruptions Preceded the Bomb Threat
A statement released later in the evening by Barnard College President Laura Rosenbury confirmed the campus was secure. However, the statement also revealed that the bomb threat came shortly after an earlier protest inside the Milstein Center.
“Masked disruptors entered the building in the midst of classes,” the statement explained. “During de-escalation efforts, the college received a bomb threat. Despite warnings and a fire alarm activation, many protesters stayed, putting the campus at risk.”
To ensure student safety, Barnard administrators requested NYPD assistance.
After thorough investigations, the NYPD found no active threat. The college confirmed that classes would resume on Thursday as scheduled.
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Barnard and Columbia University Respond
Barnard College emphasized its commitment to campus safety and academic integrity, stating:
“Barnard is committed to fostering a safe environment where all students can learn and all members of our community are respected. Disruptions to that mission are an affront to the purpose of higher education and cannot be tolerated.”
Columbia University, which is affiliated with Barnard College, also issued a statement in response to the incident:
“We are in touch with Barnard’s leadership and security team as they address the situation and will continue to monitor it closely. The disruption of academic activities is not acceptable conduct. We are committed to supporting our Columbia student body and our campus community during this challenging time.”
Campus Operations Resume After Security Sweep
Following the NYPD’s investigation, Barnard confirmed that campus operations had returned to normal. The exact source of the bomb threat remains unclear, but authorities continue to monitor the situation.
