Bomb threat at University of Virginia’s Shanon Library; building evacuated as police begins probe

A bomb threat was reported at the University of Virginia’s (UVA) Shannon Library on Friday morning, leading to the evacuation of the building, according to WRIC ABC8 News.

At 10:49 am (local time) on March 13, the UVA Department of Safety and Security issued an emergency alert concerning the library, located at 160 McCormick Road.

By 11:16 am, University Police confirmed they were on-site, investigating the threat and evacuating both Shannon Library and Clemons Library. Authorities have advised the public to stay clear of the area.

“University Police are on scene investigating. Both Shannon and Clemons Libraries have been evacuated. University Operations remain normal outside of Shannon and Clemons,” UVA Department of Safety and Security said on X.

About University of Virginia

The University of Virginia (UVA) is situated in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The University of Virginia has six primary libraries. Shannon Library specialises in social sciences and humanities, and also holds government documents, the Tibetan collection, and reference resources, according to the university’s website. Clemons Library, on the other hand, contains the Robertson Media Center as well as the Georges Student Center.

Shooting at Old Dominion University

The threat at the University of Virginia on Friday comes amid heightened tensions in the state following a shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk just a day earlier. The incident resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to two others. The two injured victims were also members of the Army, according to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, according to Newsweek.

One of the victims, previously hospitalised in critical condition, has now improved to fair condition, according to Sentara Health, while the other was treated and discharged.

The deceased victim was Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a 42-year-old from Chesapeake, who is survived by his spouse and child, the US Army Cadet Command at Old Dominion stated in a social media post, reported AP.

According to his biography on the university’s website, Shah attended Old Dominion University as an ROTC student and returned in 2022 to serve as a program leader. During his Army career, he flew helicopters on missions over Iraq, Afghanistan, and Eastern Europe.

On Friday morning, to honor his close friend Shah, Eddie Flack poured a bottle of Wild Turkey on the lawn near the flagpoles across from Constant Hall on campus. Flack, also from Chesapeake, said he and Shah had formed a strong friendship while studying at ODU.

The FBI identified 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh as the suspect who was killed during the shooting.

Jalloh, who had been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his involvement with the Islamic State group, was released from federal custody in December 2024 and placed on supervised release, which is similar to probation. The reason for his early release is unknown. Although inmates can receive reductions in their sentences for various reasons, it has not been confirmed whether that applied in his situation.

At a Thursday news conference, a reporter asked FBI Norfolk Field Office Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans whether there had been any reference to the ongoing war in Iran. She responded, “None whatsoever.” The US and Israel began military action against Iran with missile strikes on February 28. The shooter also had military experience; Jalloh, a naturalized US citizen from Sierra Leone, worked as a specialist in the Virginia Army National Guard from 2009 until his honorable discharge in 2015.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated on Thursday that the agency is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.