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EASTON, Pa. — Update 2:28 a.m. EDT May 7: Investigators have not found evidence that social media threats of an attack on Lafayette College's Easton, Pennsylvania, campus over the weekend were credible, school officials said in a statement.
"I want to thank everyone for the care you showed for one another last evening and outline next steps for the community as we strive to recover from this difficult incident," Lafayette College President Alison Byerly said in the statement. "As noted in our message late last night, law enforcement officials did not find any indication that the threat made to the campus was credible. They advise a return to normal operations, including the return to campus of those who remained off campus last night. While Public Safety remains vigilant, the investigation, led by the FBI with the assistance of the Easton Police Department and Public Safety, is now focused on identifying the source of the threat."
President’s message on next steps following last night’s events https://t.co/sxacsaYiuS
— Lafayette College (@LafCol) May 6, 2018
The news came after school police said early Sunday that “no malicious or hazardous materials” were found “after an extensive room-by-room search of the campus.”
After an extensive room by room search of the campus there were no malicious or hazardous materials found.
— LafCol Public Safety (@LafayetteDPS) May 6, 2018
ORIGINAL STORY: A Twitter user who claimed to attend Lafayette College and support the Islamic State group reportedly threatened to attack the school's Easton, Pennsylvania, campus Saturday, sparking an FBI investigation.
According to Lehigh Valley Live, the person, using the name "Jafar Saleem (Brendan)" on Twitter, pledged to "destroy the Christianity within the school and make Allah proud." The Twitter user also posted a photo of several weapons with the caption, "Allah has graced us with these weapons of destruction to carry out his needs," Lehigh Valley Live reported.
The Twitter account has since been suspended, officials said.
In a pastebin.com post, the person claimed to have placed "several pipe bombs, pressure cookers and nail bombs around the campus and plan to inflict the most damage possible," Lehigh Valley Live reported.
The college tweeted late Saturday that students on campus should "stay where they are" and off-campus students should "stay away while the threat is assessed."
Lafayette College has received a threat this evening. We are in conversation with various law enforcement agencies to determine the legitimacy of this threat. At this time, we encourage everyone to remain calm.
— Lafayette College (@LafCol) May 6, 2018
We are asking those on campus to stay where they are and asking those off campus to stay away while the threat is assessed.
— Lafayette College (@LafCol) May 6, 2018
Active investigation continues with DPS, EPD, FBI. Officers from each agency will be inspecting each building on campus.
— Lafayette College (@LafCol) May 6, 2018
The college's public safety department tweeted early Sunday that the campus is "not on lockdown."
Clarification and Update: Campus not on lockdown. We continue to search bldgs. Stay alert. Report suspicious activity (610) 330-4444.
— LafCol Public Safety (@LafayetteDPS) May 6, 2018
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