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Bethune-Cookman among several historically black colleges & universities to receive bomb threats

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach police say a man claiming to be part of a neo-Nazi organization threatened to blow up and shoot people at Bethune-Cookman University Monday.

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It was one of at least seven historically black colleges and universities to receive similar threats Monday, forcing those campuses into lockdown.

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According to the Daytona Beach Police Department, the caller claimed to have placed explosives in backpacks and duffle bags around campus. Police say the caller also threatened to carry out a shooting around lunch time.

Daytona Beach police searched the campus grounds but found nothing.

Police cleared the campus around 11 a.m.

Chief Jakari Young says the suspect didn’t seem to be in a rush during the 20-minute hone call, during which he claimed to belong to a neo-Nazi group.

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“We are not going to release the call because it is a major part of the investigation,” Chief Young said. “But he did make a connection to that organization in the call.”

Young said he did not know whether the threats were connected to a neo-Nazi march that took place in Orlando over the weekend, but Bethune-Cookman was one of at least seven HBCUs across the country to receive similar threats Monday.

Another six were threatened on January 4.

Police say the FBI is investigating the link between the threat made against Bethune-Cookman and the other HBCUs.

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The University Canceled classes Monday and asked students to stay in their dorms.

Police say they will have an increased presence around campus as they continue to investigate the threats.

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Katlyn Brieskorn, WFTV.com

Katlyn Brieskorn is a Digital Assignment Editor at WFTV. She joined Channel 9 in July 2019.