Update: Oct. 31, 11 p.m. UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor John Wilton said Wednesday, in a memo, that university police “completed searches of the main and Clark Kerr campuses, as well as UC properties adjacent to the campus, and have recommended that all campus operations return to normal status.”
He continued: “We always encourage the campus community to use the opportunities available to share tips and information and remember that if they ‘See Something, Say Something.’ Threats to our campus safety are taken very seriously, so caution should be exercised when making casual remarks.”
Original story, Oct. 30, 2012
University of California Police Capt. Margo Bennett sent the following alert to UC Berkeley community members Tuesday just after 3:15 p.m. The notice appears below in full.
Dear Campus,
The University has received a non-specific, anonymous bomb threat. It came via an anonymous email sent to “Caltips” reporting on an overheard conversation. NO SPECIFIC LOCATION OR TIME was given. In fact, no verifiable information was provided.
At this time, UCPD is taking steps to determine the validity of this threat and conducting searches in the most accessible and vulnerable areas of the campus. We are conferring with campus administration on a course of action.
While the vast majority of these threats are bogus, we are treating appropriately for the safety of our campus population. If you wish to leave the building or the campus, please feel free to do so, but we ask that staff inform their supervisor first.
We will keep you informed as we investigate this situation.
A developing situation
Bennett said, at about 4:10 p.m., that the police investigation is continuing: “We’re in the process of continuing our sweep of the campus. We’ve discovered nothing out of place at this time.”
It’s the second bomb threat at UC Berkeley so far this year. A Sept. 25 report of a bomb on campus later was determined to be unfounded.
“We go through periods where we receive bomb threats,” she said. “We treat them all the same. We look at them seriously. We do our due diligence in checking the area, and we investigate it as best we can based upon the information we’re able to get our hands on.”
Bennett said community members who find suspicious objects should avoid contact, and call police to report them, using either 911 or 510-642-3333. Tips are most helpful, she said, when callers can include the location of the item and a description.
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