Harvard University evacuated following bomb threat at Memorial Hall

Harvard University issued a shelter-in-place order on Monday morning following a bomb threat directed at Memorial Hall. The emergency alert was sent at approximately 8:45 a.m. local time, instructing students and staff near the building to remain in their current locations and advising others to avoid the area.

The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) responded to the threat, establishing a security perimeter around Memorial Hall and the nearby Zimmer Hall plaza. While the shelter-in-place order was lifted around 9:20 a.m., authorities maintained closures for Memorial Hall and Memorial Church as a precautionary measure. Shuttle services in the vicinity were also temporarily halted.

By midday, the university reopened Memorial Hall and Memorial Church, though officials noted that investigations into the threat were ongoing. The Cambridge Police Department assisted with the response, though HUPD maintained leadership over the investigation.