The New York Police Department responded to — and then cleared — a bomb threat at the Milstein Center at Barnard College on Wednesday.
Officers worked to evacuate the building just before 5 p.m. ET, according to a post on X
“Anyone who refuses to leave the location is subject to arrest,” the NYPD advisory said. “Please stay away from the area.”
An exterior shot of the Entrance Gate and Barnard Hall at Barnard College in Manhattan.
UIG via Getty Images
Then, just before 8 p.m. local time, the NYPD announced that it had cleared the threat and concluded that there was no threat to the public, per a follow-up social media post.
“The bomb threat incident at Barnard College has been investigated and cleared,” the post read. “There is currently no threat to the public. Please continue to avoid the area and expect traffic delays.”
The bomb threat came following a disruption earlier in the day at the Milstein Center, in which “masked disruptors” entered the building in the midst of classes and dining hall prep, according to a statement from Barnard.
Protestors interrupt classes at the Milstein Center of Barnard College in New York City on March 5, 2025.
@Eliana_Goldin / X
It said, “Barnard is committed to fostering a safe environment where all students can learn and all members of our community are respected. Our academic mission is at the heart of what we do, and disruptions to that mission are an affront to the purpose of higher education and cannot be tolerated.”
Columbia University, which is separate from but affiliated with Barnard College, released a statement regarding the disruption that said, in part, “We are in touch with Barnard’s leadership and security team as they address the situation and will continue to monitor it closely. The disruption of academic activities is not acceptable conduct. We are committed to supporting our Columbia student body and our campus community during this challenging time.”
Barnard’s statement noted that campus activities across its campus were proceeding as normal following the initial incident. Within an hour, however, the NYPD was first alerted to a supposed bomb threat in the same vicinity.
ABC News’ Morena Basteiro contributed to this report.