Police cars and law enforcement on scene at Olin Library (Clara Richards | Student Life)

The Washington University Police Department (WUPD) evacuated Olin Library, Bauer Hall, and Simon Hall at around 10:10 a.m., after receiving a phone call at 9:40 a.m. where an unknown individual made a threat, Feb 26. The University informed community members that only Olin Library was affected by the threat at 11:20 a.m. via phone call and text. 

After a two-and-a-half hour investigation including local police departments, WUPD notified community members that they completed their investigation of a potential threat to Olin Library and found no threat. In an email, the University said that students could return to the building and normal library activities would resume. 

Shortly after the evacuation, several students reported having been told to leave the buildings due to a threat, but WUPD officers did not immediately specify what the threat was. 

St. Louis County Police dispatchers, including a K-9 unit, were present near the evacuated buildings. Police officers told students to move progressively further away from Olin Library in the hour following the initial evacuation, saying that they needed to move behind the surrounding buildings. 

Junior Emily Bekesh said she was in Bauer 130 when a woman came in to tell them that they needed to evacuate due to a threat.

“People took the time to pack up their stuff and then we all slowly filed out,” Bekesh said. “[It was] not disorderly, I don’t think anyone was really concerned, so it was pretty calm.” 

Bekesh’s class was canceled shortly after the evacuation occurred.

Junior Francisco Lucca was inside Bauer Hall on the top floor when his class was evacuated and similarly said that people did not express significant concern when exiting the building. 

“It was very nonchalant and chill for a bomb threat,” Lucca said.

In a written statement to Student Life, Chief of Police Angela Coonce explained WUPD’s response. 

“Safety is always our highest priority. If there’s a question about the credibility of a threat, we will always err on the side of caution and take action.”

At 11:26 a.m., students taking Physiological Control Systems were notified their exam would be canceled, and professors across multiple departments also canceled their afternoon classes. 

Bauer Hall was reopened to students at 12:07 p.m. A WUPD officer stationed outside Bauer Hall said that it was temporarily closed as the department was “[erring] on the side of caution.” Simon Hall was also reopened shortly after Bauer. 

The St. Louis Airport Police Department brought in multiple dogs as part of a K-9 unit to sniff the area around Graham Chapel and the buildings surrounding Olin Library at 12:20 p.m. 

At 12:39 p.m., the University issued an alert with an all clear and students were allowed back on the pathways surrounding Olin Library, and in the building itself. 

WUPD determined that the threat was a “hoax” and is working to identify the caller. 

“We will continue to work with our partner agencies to identify the caller and refer them for prosecution,” Coonce said.

This story is subject to continuing updates.