2012 University of Pittsburgh bomb threats

none thumb|300px|right|The Cathedral of Learning has been the subject of a multitude of bomb threats In 2012, a series of bomb threats was made towards the University of Pittsburgh. The first threat was written on a bathroom stall in the Chevron Science Center and was observed on February 13, 2012. It was not until approximately a month later, however, that threats occurred with increasing frequency.Navratil Liz Pitt bomb threats frustrate students, faculty http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pitt-bomb-threats-frustrate-students-faculty-629227/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120401172428/http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pitt-bomb-threats-frustrate-students-faculty-629227/ dead April 1, 2012 9 April 2012 31 March 2012 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The number of bomb threats totaled approximately 160 as of April 21, 2012, after which police reported no additional related threats. Delivery Several threats were written on bathroom stalls in the Cathedral of Learning and Chevron Science Center.Navratil Liz Cathedral of Learning set to reopen at 9:00 p.m. after bomb threat http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/university-of-pittsburgh-evacuates-chevron-building-628402/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120329221529/http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/university-of-pittsburgh-evacuates-chevron-building-628402/ dead March 29, 2012 9 April 2012 28 March 2012 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Several more are known to have originated via email.Navratil Liz Experts say threatening Pitt emails are virtually impossible to trace http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/experts-say-threatening-emails-are-virtually-impossible-to-trace-630118/?p=0 https://web.archive.org/web/20120409014558/http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/experts-say-threatening-emails-are-virtually-impossible-to-trace-630118/?p=0 dead April 9, 2012 9 April 2012 6 April 2012 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Some of the emails are believed to have been routed through intermediate servers using Mixmaster, a type of anonymous remailer that makes the origin of an email almost impossible to determine. The threats targeted dozens of buildings at the University of Pittsburgh in addition to buildings at a number of nearby educational institutions: Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, Point Park University, California University of Pennsylvania, and Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC).Pitt suffers more threats, other schools targeted https://www.wsj.com/articles/APebcda412ac214d30ae6edb53d90285f8 13 April 2012 12 April 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120413033259/http://online.wsj.com/article/APebcda412ac214d30ae6edb53d90285f8.html April 13, 2012 Investigation The FBI and Secret Service had identified at least one person of interest related to the case,Begos Kevin University Of Pittsburgh Bomb Threats Leaves Campus On Edge http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/10/university-of-pittsburgh-_2_n_1414331.html 10 April 2012 Huffington Post 9 April 2012 and local police collaborated with the Department of Justice and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.Stanglin Douglas 12 bomb threats in one day rattle nerves at Pitt http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/04/12-bomb-threats-in-one-day-rattle-nerves-at-pitt/1 13 April 2012 USA Today 10 April 2012 On April 11, police arrested Mark Lee Krangle, a Pitt alumnus and former teaching fellow who wrote a harassing email to Pitt professors that advised international terrorism was behind the bomb threats, as he disembarked at Pittsburgh International Airport.Mackey Robert University of Pittsburgh Police Make Arrest, but Bomb Threats Continue http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/university-of-pittsburgh-police-make-arrest-but-bomb-threats-continue/# 13 April 2012 The New York Times: The Lede (blog) 10 April 2012 On the same day, the Pittsburgh US Attorney's Office claimed that "significant progress" had been made in the investigation of the bomb threats.Riely Kaitlynn 'Significant progress' seen in Pitt bomb-threat probe http://articles.philly.com/2012-04-11/news/31325336_1_bomb-threats-buildings-online-postings https://web.archive.org/web/20160203092801/http://articles.philly.com/2012-04-11/news/31325336_1_bomb-threats-buildings-online-postings dead February 3, 2016 13 April 2012 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 11 April 2012 Response The University of Pittsburgh offered a reward of up to $10,000 on March 30 "for information leading to an arrest and conviction" of those responsible for the threats, which was raised to up to $50,000 on April 2Gurman Sadie Pitt building reopens after bomb threat http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12093/1221201-53.stm https://web.archive.org/web/20120406004818/http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12093/1221201-53.stm dead April 6, 2012 9 April 2012 2 April 2012 before being withdrawn on April 21.Reward Offered In Pitt Bomb Threat Case Withdrawn http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/04/21/reward-offered-in-pitt-bomb-threat-case-dropped/ 21 April 2012 21 April 2012 The University has also removed some bathroom stall doors in the Cathedral of Learning and ramped up security in the building. Chancellor Mark Nordenberg wrote a letter to the University on April 3 in which he said that "...those responsible for these threats not only lack basic respect for the thousands of people whose lives have been disrupted by them but must possess a heartless streak,"Nordenberg Mark Chancellor Issues Update About Campus Bomb Threats http://www.chancellor.pitt.edu/news/chancellor-issues-update-about-campus-bomb-threats 9 April 2012 and another on April 6, in which he lamented that "It is true ... that this could have happened anywhere. But sadly, it is happening here at Pitt – on a campus that is widely recognized as safe by all comparative measures and that is known for its sense of community."Nordenberg Mark Continuing Campus Disruptions http://www.chancellor.pitt.edu/news/continuing-campus-disruptions 9 April 2012 On April 8, the University announced that it would be tightening security measures, including provisions such as requiring all people entering University buildings to present University IDs, only allowing students to enter residence halls, and disallowing backpacks and packages from being brought into buildings.Navratil Liz Building security tightened at Pitt https://www.post-gazette.com/neighborhoods-city/2012/04/09/Building-security-tightened-at-Pitt/stories/201204090130 9 April 2012 9 April 2012 Pittsburgh Post-GazettePitt to tighten security, ban backpacks in bomb-threatened buildings http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_790426.html 9 April 2012 8 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120410210318/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_790426.html 2012-04-10 dead This policy was soon changed to allow backpacks into buildings, and on April 9 the Cathedral of Learning had more than one open entrance (All guarded by security).Niederberger Mary Lines, confusion at Pitt buildings with new security restrictions http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12100/1222879-53-0.stm https://web.archive.org/web/20120413033143/http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12100/1222879-53-0.stm dead April 13, 2012 9 April 2012 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 9 April 2012 Conclusion On April 10, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette received a note from "The Threateners" demanding that the University of Pittsburgh take down the $50,000 reward they offered for information leading to the culprit or culprits. They offered a 24-hour window without bomb threats, which they upheld. Pitt and the FBI decided to not negotiate with terrorists, ignoring the demand, and the Post-Gazette did not publish a story about the offer. Then, on April 20, 2012, The Pitt News, the daily student newspaper, received a similar email from "The Threateners" offering a 24-hour window without threats, which they stuck to, and then demanded that Pitt takes down the $50,000 reward. Some of the email stated, this all began when you, Nordenberg, put out a $10,000 — then $50,000 — ‘reward’ (bounty) for some young kid who’d pranked the University. Remember? That REALLY angered us! Hey, man! This is America! We don't treat our kids like that! Simply withdraw the 'reward,' and we will end our actions permanently. They also claimed to have no ties to any persons of interest Pitt has identified. The Pitt News notified the university that it was writing a story about the offer, which led the University of Pittsburgh to withdraw the $50,000 reward by the morning of April 21, 2012. Since the morning of April 21, there have been no more bomb threats at the University of Pittsburgh. The university's final count of bomb threats was 160, targeting 52 buildings that lead to 136 evacuations.http://www.chancellor.pitt.edu/news/chancellors-remarks-department-justice-press-conference Chancellor's Remarks at the Department of Justice Press Conference Mark A. Nordenberg University of Pittsburgh 2012-08-15 2012-08-15 On August 15, 2012, it was reported that Adam Busby of Dublin, Ireland was indicted in connection with the e-mailed threats.Man from Ireland charged in Pitt bomb threat case http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/investigators-to-announce-significant-developments-in-pitt-bomb-threat-case-649066/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120816230208/http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/investigators-to-announce-significant-developments-in-pitt-bomb-threat-case-649066/ dead August 16, 2012 August 15, 2012 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette As of November 6, 2013 no updates on Adam Busby's involvement have been published. In addition, there have been no indictments whatsoever for the two months of bomb threats at the University of Pittsburgh that occurred before the concluding weeks of threats for which Busby has been indicted. References External links Pitt Police website Stop the Pitt bomb threats blog, which includes statistics on the threats Map of threats -old https://archive.today/20130115233839/http://g.co/maps/hde5b Complete Map el ongoing map of every threat 40.4457 -79.9578 type:event_globe:earth_region:US-PA title Category:University of Pittsburgh Category:February 2012 crimes in the United States Category:April 2012 crimes in the United States Category:2012 in Pennsylvania Category:Attacks on universities and colleges in the United States