US EditionSpate of hoax calls about active shooters stir fear at college campuses around the US
- Between August 21 and 25, 2025, at least 11 U.S. universities across multiple states—including locations as far apart as Arkansas and Pennsylvania—were targeted by hoax active shooter reports, leading to lockdowns and evacuations.
- These swatting incidents occurred amid increasing real threats of gun violence, leading law enforcement to respond urgently despite the calls being false.
- Multiple calls often included fake gunfire sounds and followed a pattern describing a rifle-wielding suspect near central campus buildings, causing fear and chaos among students and staff.
- The FBI stated it is investigating these swatting cases, warning the hoaxes endanger innocent people and strain law enforcement, while a campus safety expert said it is a delicate balance avoiding panic but recognizing real threats.
- The hoaxes have led to temporary lockdowns and class cancellations, raising concerns among officials that repeated false alarms may cause people to become desensitized, potentially slowing their reaction to real emergencies and posing an ongoing challenge for campus security.
115 Articles
115 Articles
New Hampshire Union Leader
The Washington PostSwatting hoaxes on college campuses spark panic and an FBI probe
Federal and local authorities are investigating a string of false reports of active shooters at a dozen U.S. universities this month as students returned to campus.
Report claims this group "very likely" behind rash of campus shooter hoaxes
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — This week’s active shooter alert at the University of Arkansas was part of a series of campus hoaxes linked to a single swatting group, according to a new report. The Center for Internet Security and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (CISISD) claims members of a swatting group called Purgatory "very likely" triggered false emergency reports at least 10 U.S. universities between Aug. 21 and Aug. 25, including t…
'Traumatic' wave of active-shooter hoaxes on campuses linked to right-wing extremist group
False reports of active shooters that put Villanova University in Philadelphia and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on lockdown and saw law enforcement swarming over campuses last week were likely perpetrated by an online swatting group called “Purgatory,” extremism researchers say.Five Purgatory members hosted a voice call on Discord, a platform popular with gamers, on Aug. 21 to an audience of 41 people, livestreaming the bogus calls…
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