All Clear Issued After Credible Bomb Threat at Missouri Southern State University Library

JOPLIN, Mo. — Unfortunately, it was a memorable first day of classes on the campus of Missouri Southern State University for all of the wrong reasons.

Campus activities were briefly disrupted Monday morning following a reported credible bomb threat targeting Spiva Library around 10:45 a.m. but after a thorough search, gave the all-clear with no explosive device found.

“The university received an email this morning with a possible bomb threat and we immediately took action,” MSSU Director of Communications Felicia Vaught said. “(The email) was flagged and the emergency management team took effect and started the evacuations of Spivel Library.

The incident began early in the day during the first week of the spring semester, when MSSU officials issued an emergency alert to students, faculty, and staff. The university called for an evacuation of Spiva Library due to the threat, followed by instructions around 10:45 a.m. for those on campus to shelter in place while Joplin law enforcement conducted a thorough investigation.

“We had an explosive K9 (unit) report and sweep the building after it had been evacuated,” Vaught said. “There were no findings and they gave us the all clear.”

Joplin police, assisted by an explosives detection K-9 unit, swept the library building. After an extensive search, no evidence of a bomb or any dangerous device was discovered. The shelter-in-place order was lifted around 11:48 a.m., and university officials announced the all-clear, allowing normal campus operations to resume.

The source of the bomb threat remains under investigation by Joplin law enforcement. The reported threat appears to be similar to messages received by other universities earlier today. Following the all-clear from authorities, campus operations have returned to normal.