Harvard Halts Classes and Evacuates Dining Hall After Morning Bomb Threat at Memorial Hall
Harvard University issued a shelter-in-place order on Monday morning after a bomb threat was reported at Memorial Hall. Police established a perimeter and swept the building, leading to the closure of adjacent facilities including Annenberg Hall and Memorial Church. Several classes were canceled or moved online, though the shelter-in-place order was lifted within 35 minutes, with the building remaining closed for further investigation.
Key points
- Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) received a bomb threat report at Memorial Hall around 8:45 a.m. on Monday, triggering a shelter-in-place order for nearby affiliates.
- HUPD lifted the shelter-in-place order at approximately 9:20 a.m. but maintained a perimeter and advised avoidance of Memorial Hall and the Zimmer Hall plaza.
- Memorial Church was closed at 10:18 a.m. 'out of an abundance of caution,' and Annenberg Hall, the first-year dining hall adjacent to Memorial Hall, was evacuated and kept closed.
- Cambridge Police Department assisted HUPD in sweeping Memorial Hall, with HUPD leading the investigation according to a 9:43 a.m. statement.
- Academic disruption included the cancellation of LPS A and SOC 1156, while Econ 10A moved to remote instruction; some classes in Zimmer Hall continued as scheduled.
- Harvard shuttle services near the building were halted, and students were instructed to avoid the area until further notice.
Background
This incident follows a pattern of campus security disruptions in the current academic year, including a threat probe at Michigan State University in early September that closed Berkey Hall and a shelter-in-place order at Notre Dame in late September following a shooting. Unlike those incidents, this event involved a specific bomb threat at a central Harvard building rather than a mass casualty event or chemical leak.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the operational impact of security threats on university operations, including rapid class cancellations and building closures. It demonstrates the coordination between university police and local law enforcement in managing potential threats in high-traffic academic areas.
What to watch
HUPD spokesperson Steven G. Catalano did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the closure of Memorial Church. The university indicated that further updates would be provided within the hour of the 10:05 a.m. alert, and the investigation into the bomb threat is ongoing.
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