Seton Hall Bomb Threat a Hoax, School Reopens Friday

Update, Thursday 8:40 p.m.

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ -- Seton Hall University will reopen its main campus in South Orange Friday after a bomb threat posted on a social media site caused a complete evacuation Thursday.

According to SHU spokesman Dan Kalmanson, the school will reopen Friday at 8 a.m. as investigators continue to probe the incident. No devices were found.

"The Essex County Bomb Squad and other local law enforcement agencies conducted a thorough search of each of the buildings on campus and found no evidence of explosive devices," Kalmanson said in a prepared statement Thursday night. "Only residence students and essential University personnel are being allowed back on campus at this time. All classes and campus operations will resume as normal beginning Friday."

According to Kalmanson, the South Orange Police Department alerted the school of the threat shortly after 3:30 p.m. Thursday. The university was then locked down and everyone was evacuated from the buildings "as a precaution during the search."

"The University takes threats of this nature seriously and is working closely with police officials to investigate the matter," Kalmanson said.

The South Orange Police Department and Essex County Prosecutor's Office are following up on all leads and investigating the threats that were made, according to South Orange Village President Alex Torpey in a statement posted on the township website. 

The South Orange Fire Department, South Orange Rescue Squad and Maplewood First Aid Squad and Office of Emergency Management were on standby on campus throughout the incident, Torpey said.

There are more than 30 buildings on campus, Kalmanson said. The Essex County Bomb Squad brought in additional K-9 dogs to assist in completing the search, he said.

John Connors, a student observing the commotion, was among those evacuated.

"I wonder when we can get back in; the police have not told us when we will be allowed to go back into the dorm," he said Thursday evening.

"It's good they're taking this seriously. I don't think you can get much on to Seton Hall campus, though, it's gated and [the security forces] are everywhere."