K-State hit by ‘swatting attack’ on first day of classes

MANHATTAN (KSNT) – Kansas State University was the target of a hoax emergency call Monday on the first day of class for students.

Director of News and Communications Services at the university Michelle Geering told 27 News that K-State was targeted in a “swatting attack” on Aug. 25. She said the attack temporarily disrupted campus activities in Manhattan.

“Riley County Dispatch received a call on their administrative line of a message stating active violence at Hale Library. Officers immediately responded and determined the call was a hoax and there was no threat or danger. The building is safe, and the Manhattan campus is under normal operations.

This appears to be similar to other swatting reports happening at universities across the country.”
K-State statement excerpt

K-State issued an alert at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 25 for an unspecified situation at the university’s Hale Library. K-State asked people to avoid the library, later issuing an all clear notification at 4:38 p.m. stating the library and campus returned to normal operations.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defines swatting as the act of making a malicious hoax call to emergency services to falsely report an emergency situation like a violent crime or an explosive device. Swatting incidents usually result in large law enforcement responses including Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, bomb squads and other emergency personnel.

Police in other states have recently responded to similar hoax calls. Law enforcement found no evidence of a shooting following reports at the University of Arkansas on Aug. 25. Villanova University was also hit by false calls regarding a shooter on Aug. 21.

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