‘These threats are not random’: VSU president issues statement on campus threats hours after lockdown lifted

ETTRICK, Va. (WRIC) -- Just hours after Virginia State University (VSU) lifted the lockdown issued on campus due to "a potential threat" Thursday morning, the university president claimed this was intentional and "not random."

In the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 11, the president of VSU, Makola Abdullah, sent out a letter to the campus community, calling this "potential threat" against multiple historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) "a threat intended to disrupt, intimidate, and instill fear in our community."

"Let us be clear: these threats are not random," Abdullah said. "They are targeted attacks on institutions that have long stood as pillars of excellence, empowerment, and progress."

At 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, VSU announced an “urgent alert” on a social post that the university’s campus would be closed.

VSU Police said later in the day that the campus lockdown was lifted with restrictions. Authorities said that entry to campus is limited to faculty, staff and students with valid VSU identification.

According to the university, there are no reported injuries or incidents in connection with the threat as of the time of reporting.

"To those who seek to silence or scare us: we will not be intimidated," Abdullah said. "Today's events only reaffirm our commitment to providing a safe and empowering environment for our students, faculty and staff."

Abdullah emphasized that VSU remains in "close coordination with law enforcement, and enhanced security will remain in place."

“VSU Police, in coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, is actively investigating the credibility of the threat received earlier today,” a VSU spokesperson told 8News at around noon on Thursday.

This "potential threat" comes alongside two other HBCUs closed due to potential threats to the campus. Hampton University has canceled all non-essential activities on Sept. 11 and Sept. 12 due to threats to its campus. A third HBCU, Alabama State University, is also on lockdown. Bethune-Cookman University (BCU) and Southern University were also placed on lockdown after receiving threats, according to officials.