2024-02-23 00:54:00
Metro
Published
Feb. 22, 2024, 7:54 p.m. ET
Two CUNY campuses – York and Queens colleges – were forced to evacuate when they received “credible” bomb threats Thursday afternoon, according to cops and the schools.
Both colleges – in the Jamaica and Flushing neighborhoods – received the emailed threats around 12:50 p.m., the NYPD said.
Students were told to evacuate as the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit descended on the campuses, police said.
No devices were found and the NYPD had cleared both schools by 2:30 p.m.
But both colleges still opted to keep students away from the campuses.
At Queens College, all classes went remote as of 2:45 p.m., according to a notice issued to students and staff.
“A credible threat was received by Queens College earlier today,” a spokeswoman said.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the campus community was advised to work and attend classes remotely for the remainder of the day.
“All classes and business services will resume on schedule tomorrow. We thank the college community for their cooperation.”
York and Queens colleges in the Jamaica and Flushing neighborhoods shut down and held classes remote as the NYPD searched for explosives. Queens College
At York College, remote classes began at 1:15 p.m., and all campus buildings were closed, according to its website.
York College political science professor Michael Sharpe told The Queens Courier that he’d heard nothing of the threats until he arrived on campus and saw that students were leaving.
The campus shutdown prompted him to reschedule an exam, he said.
“I’m shocked,” Sharpe said.
Both colleges – in the Jamaica and Flushing neighborhoods – received the emailed threats around 12:50 p.m., the NYPD said. LightRocket via Getty Images
“I’ve been here for 16 years and this is the first time I’ve seen this.”
At the campus, Deputy Inspector Ralph Clement, the commanding officer at the 103rd Precinct, told the paper the ominous threat, issued to school officials, was made anonymously.
“So we are taking precautions just to make sure it is not a bomb,” Clement said.
“These things happen, not often, but they happen so we have to go the full route with it because God forbid it’s real.”
Students were told to evacuate as the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit descended on the campuses, police said. X/@NotifyNYC
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards condemned the threats in a statement on X.
“Making threats like these are dangerous and disgusting. We won’t stand for this in Queens,” Donovan said.
“My office is monitoring the situation and we’re thankful for the world-class staff at York College and Queens College, as well as the NYPD, for jumping into action to keep our students safe.”
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