Bomb Threat at Harvard’s Memorial Hall Prompts Shelter-in-Place Order
A bomb threat at Harvard University’s Memorial Hall prompted a shelter-in-place order Monday morning as police and emergency personnel searched the building and surrounding area.
Harvard issued an emergency alert at approximately 8:45 a.m., instructing members of the university community near Memorial Hall to shelter in place and directing others to stay away from the area while authorities responded.
“Bomb threat at Memorial Hall,” the university alert stated, according to multiple reports. The message instructed those nearby to follow directions from law enforcement.
The shelter-in-place order was lifted at approximately 9:20 a.m., but Harvard continued to ask students, faculty and staff to avoid Memorial Hall and the nearby Science Center Plaza. Memorial Hall remained closed as police continued their investigation.
The Cambridge Police Department assisted Harvard University Police Department officers in searching Memorial Hall. Police established a perimeter around the building while the investigation was underway.
Memorial Hall is one of the most prominent buildings in the center of Harvard’s Cambridge campus. The building includes Sanders Theatre and is adjacent to Annenberg Hall, Harvard College’s first-year dining hall. Annenberg was evacuated following the threat and remained closed during the response.
The incident also disrupted classes and campus operations. Some classes scheduled in buildings near Memorial Hall were canceled, while others were moved online. Shuttle service in the immediate area was also temporarily halted.
Harvard later closed Memorial Church, which is located within Harvard Yard, as a precaution. University officials said additional updates would be provided as the investigation continued.
As of Monday afternoon, authorities had not publicly reported finding an explosive device. Police also had not announced an arrest or identified the person responsible for the threat. The precise circumstances surrounding the threat remained under investigation.
The response follows Harvard’s established procedures for bomb threats. Harvard University Police Department guidance states that bomb threats are treated seriously and that officers may search buildings or specific areas when circumstances warrant.
For students and faculty, the incident temporarily transformed a busy Monday morning on Harvard’s historic Cambridge campus into a scene of police activity, building closures and disrupted classes.
The investigation remains ongoing, and Harvard and local authorities are expected to provide additional information as more details become available.
