Tag: harvard bomb threat

Harvard was forced to evacuate several buildings on Monday when a bomb threat was sent in via email, and the perpetrator was quickly identified and arrested. However, his attorney says he was under enormous pressure during finals week and was grieving the loss of his father on the anniversary of his death.

19-year old Eldo Kim emailed the threat–which said that there were two shrapnel bombs in four possible locations on campus–before finals began on Monday morning. Authorities traced the email through TOR, which he used to change the IP address on the school’s computer, and he admitted he had sent the threat to get out of taking the test. He has since been released on $100,000 bond.

“It’s finals time at Harvard,” attorney Ian Gold said. “In one way, we’re looking at the post-9/11 equivalent of pulling a fire alarm. Certainly I’m not saying the government response was unjustified, but it’s important to keep in mind we’re dealing with a 20-year-old man who was under a great deal of pressure.”

The threat was taken for a hoax by many who thought it might be a ploy to get out of finals, and unfortunately the evacuations forced the cancellation of several finals for students who were prepared.

“I have a good guess somebody called it in so they wouldn’t have to take an exam,” student Alexander Ryjik said. “It’s frustrating because now the exam will have to be postponed…Harvard is just like every other school, where students are just as stressed and caught up with their work. At Harvard especially, people are scared to fail or do poorly, even a B. It just kind of reflects just how high-stress it is here. If it is true that a student sent a bomb threat to prevent himself from taking a final, I think it’s sad that somebody would have to go to that length.”

Image via Thinkstock

The bomb threat called in to Harvard on Monday seemed awfully convenient, given that it occurred during finals, so it’s not much of a surprise that the entire thing was a hoax.

20-year old Eldo Kim admitted to FBI agents that he had sent an email to campus officials claiming that there were two shrapnel bombs in four possible locations, using an anonymous program called Guerrilla Mail. He also used TOR to generate a random IP address, but authorities quickly discovered that he was the one who had accessed TOR on the Harvard network. He is due to appear in U.S. District Court today and could face five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

According to an affidavit, Kim’s only motivation for the threat was to get out of taking one of his finals, and he told officials that when he heard the fire alarm go off in Emerson Hall, he knew his plan had worked. Emerson–as well as Thayer, and Sever halls and the Science Center–were all evacuated early Monday morning and no one could access Harvard Yard without ID. At just after nine a.m., this report was sent out through Harvard’s emergency messaging system:

“The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) this morning received an unconfirmed report that explosives may have been placed in four buildings on campus: the Science Center, Thayer, Sever and Emerson Halls. HUPD and Cambridge Police are on the scene. Out of an abundance of caution, the buildings have been evacuated while the report is investigated. Harvard’s focus is on the safety of our students, faculty and staff. We will update the media when we have more information.”

Many students had already guessed that the threat was a hoax and were unhappy about their own exams being postponed.

“I have a good guess somebody called it in so they wouldn’t have to take an exam,” student Alexander Ryjik said. “It’s frustrating because now the exam will have to be postponed.”

Image: Thinkstock

Harvard has been forced to evacuate several buildings on campus after a bomb threat was conveniently called in during finals.

According to an emergency alert issued by the school, no explosions have been reported but authorities are taking all necessary precautions and have evacuated four buildings: the Science Center and Thayer, Sever and Emerson halls. Several final exams have been canceled for the day.

The initial report went out over the school’s emergency alert system at just after nine a.m. today; about half an hour later, this message was issued:

“The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) this morning received an unconfirmed report that explosives may have been placed in four buildings on campus: the Science Center, Thayer, Sever and Emerson Halls. HUPD and Cambridge Police are on the scene. Out of an abundance of caution, the buildings have been evacuated while the report is investigated. Harvard’s focus is on the safety of our students, faculty and staff. We will update the media when we have more information.”

Harvard University and Cambridge Police are at the scene and will be conducting an investigation into the call; as of now, only residents of Harvard Yard will be allowed access to the Yard and must have ID.

The threat is being treated by many as a hoax, possibly perpetrated by a student who needed a little more time to study. For some, the idea is frustrating.

“I have a good guess somebody called it in so they wouldn’t have to take an exam,” student Alexander Ryjik said. “It’s frustrating because now the exam will have to be postponed.”

Image: Thinkstock