University Of Fort Smith Cyber Terrorist Attack Hoax: Why People Call In Fake Bomb Threats

9:45AM, August 21st, a campus wide evacuation order was sent out via email, communicating to the student body and staff that there was an active bomb threat on the premises.

Classes were cancelled, personal belongings were ordered to be left behind, and students on campus were told to shelter in place.

Around a year ago today, a similar threat was made towards the students at the University of Arkansas- Fayetteville. Same hot summer day, same text, same mass hysteria and panic. Word spread quickly via social media among the student body and eventually made national news. Meaning whoever made this call could be watching from half a world away.

Jeffery Gruenewald, the director of the TRC (Terrorism Research Center) at the University expressed that this was the very reason cyber criminals would commit this sort of crime.

In a culture of one-upmanship, a criminal could do it for the thrill of carrying out a sophisticated and impactful crime with very little risk. Those who have committed cyber crimes such as the bomb threat hoax at the University of Fort Smith is extremely difficult as it requires several layers of encryption, however it can, and has been done, said Gruenewald. 

An event such as this not only causes daily disruption, but generates public fear for parents and students. UAFS Chancellor Dr Terisa C. Riley gave the all clear at 1:35 PM, approximately four hours after the evacuation.

“I want to assure you that our university emergency management team will conduct a thorough after-action review," said Riley, "carefully evaluating today’s response and identifying opportunities to strengthen our emergency procedures."