SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8/CNS) - Point Loma Nazarene University canceled all classes Thursday after receiving information from the FBI of a threat of violence centering on the institution's higher-education facilities. The university's main campus was able to re-open Thursday evening.
Campus officials announced about 8:30 a.m. that they had suspended classes at all PLNU campuses "out of an abundance of caution," university officials said in a statement posted on the university's website.
The decision followed a notification from the federal investigation service about an "unspecified threat," university spokeswoman Jill Monroe said.
The security concern came to light in the early morning, according to a statement from the FBI, which did not disclose what form the menacing communication took.
"Initial information received indicated non-specific comments were made regarding PLNU," the advisory states. "Immediately upon notification of the potential threat, our Joint Terrorism Task Force engaged with our federal, state and local partners to investigate."
As of late morning, the JTTF was "actively working to determine the veracity of the (threatening) comments," according to the FBI statement, which added that the initial findings of the investigation indicated "that this is not an active shooter threat."
The main PLNU campus in the Sunset Cliffs area of San Diego, as well as satellite locations in Mission Valley and Liberty Station, were closed and all employees were dismissed, Monroe said. Another location in Bakersfield also was temporarily shut down.
Officials advised students who live on campus to return to their dormitories and remain inside pending further updates or leave the school grounds if preferred.
The university released the following statement Thursday evening about the re-opening of campuses:
In consultation with law enforcement officials investigating the matter, university leadership has decided to re-open the main residential campus effective immediately. Tomorrow, October 26th PLNU will resume full operations on all campuses. PLNU is fully cooperating with law enforcement in this ongoing investigation.
Dining services are available tonight in Nicholson Commons. The Department of Public Safety and residential life staff remain available for students on main campus.