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The castle at University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). Photo by Pennalumni via Wikimedia commons
 
The castle at University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). Photo by Pennalumni via Wikimedia commons

 

Philly regional colleges on alert for possible violence threat

Most colleges will operate on a normal schedule but have also increased security and notified students to stay alert.

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Regional universities were notified over the weekend of a social media posting which threatened violence at a Philadelphia-area college or university for Monday.

Most colleges will operate on a normal schedule but have also increased security and notified students to stay alert.

Several media outlets have linked the threat to a post published last Friday on 4chan, a message board where everyone is anonymous, after a mass shooter killed nine people at a community college in Umpqua, Oregon.

Under the title "The Beta Rebellion has begun" the user announced that "on October fifth, at 1pm Central time, a fellow robot will take up arms at a university near Philadelphia. His cries will be heard, his victims will cower in fear, and the strength of the Union will decay a little more.”

The FBI released the following statement:

Out of an abundance of caution, the FBI Philadelphia Field Office notified local colleges and universities of a social media posting which threatened violence at a Philadelphia-area college or university for Monday, October 5. No specific college or university was identified in the posting. We encourage students, faculty, and employees at area colleges and universities to follow the guidance of their campus security officials. The FBI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to investigate threats of violence, and, as always, we ask the public to report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
 

The Community College of Philadelphia Department of Safety and Security posted on its main web page that it has increased security and it is working with the Philadelphia Police Department to increase patrols on the College’s Main Campus and the West, Northwest and Northeast Regional Centers.

"While there is no threat against a specific college or university, the advisory reminds us to monitor our surroundings and report suspicious activities to the College's Safety and Security officers. Report any active threat to law enforcement at 911. The College’s Safety and Security officers will monitor developments," stated the institution.

It is also asking Community College students to report suspicious activity to security at (215)751-8111 or call extension 5555 from a College phone.

The University of Pennsylvania, La Salle University and Drexel University also sent safety alerts on Sunday notifying students that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms and the FBI were aware of an unspecific threat directed at "a university near Philadelphia," that could happen at 2 p.m. Eastern Time Monday.

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