Increased False Alarm Calls at US Universities Calls for Greater Alertness
Several US universities have become the targets of fake emergency calls, causing widespread fear and confusion. This latest trend of prank calls, known as swatting, has law enforcement officials urging students to stay alert and report any suspicious activities.
Understanding the Swatting Phenomenon
Swatting involves prank calls made to emergency services to deploy a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. This trend has been on the rise, often causing panic and chaos as students, faculty, and parents are forced to evacuate. In recent times, around a dozen universities have been victims of these swatting hoaxes.
Impact on Universities
A Catholic university located in Pennsylvania experienced two separate swatting incidents within four days. One student there described a scenario where she was participating in an orientation Mass and suddenly, people began to run in fear. She joined the crowd, fearing for her life.
Likewise, the University located in Tennessee at Chattanooga was another victim of a swatting hoax. This incident led to an immediate campus lockdown. One senior student described the experience as hectic and chaotic, with everyone evacuating within seconds and police officers armed with assault rifles directing them to safety.
Several other universities, including those in Iowa, Arkansas, Arizona, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Colorado, and Kansas, have also faced similar hoax threats.
Law Enforcement's Response
The FBI has noted an increase in swatting incidents across the country. While the agency has refrained from commenting on specific incidents, they have acknowledged their awareness of these hoaxes affecting numerous colleges and universities. They are reportedly working closely with law enforcement partners to address these events.
These false reports are not only a drain on law enforcement resources and cost thousands of dollars, but they also pose a significant risk to innocent people. To counter this, the FBI established a database in 2023 to better track these hoax threats. This database, filled with information provided by local police agencies, has tracked thousands of incidents so far.
Consequences of Swatting Hoaxes
Unfortunately, these swatting hoaxes have sometimes resulted in victims being accidentally shot, and in some cases, killed by the police. Last year, a man from the UK was charged with carrying out a swatting hoax after police in Maryland responded to a false call about a hostage situation. The individual, who was falsely accused, was shot with plastic bullets.
Several young men have been jailed for carrying out swatting hoaxes, including a man extradited from Romania, a Wisconsin man who hacked into doorbell cameras to live stream the police raid, and a 19-year-old American-Israeli teen who made thousands of threats to Jewish institutions worldwide.
In light of these incidents, it is imperative that the public remains vigilant and promptly reports anything suspicious to law enforcement. The goal is to ensure the safety and security of everyone and prevent any more of these dangerous hoaxes.