Northern bomb threat determined a hoax

A bomb scare at Montana State University-Northern was reported at 2:45 p.m. Friday Assistant Police Chief Aaron Wittmer said, but investigation found no sign of an explosive device.

The unnamed caller, speaking in what Wittmer described as a heavy Middle Eastern accent, told police dispatch that a bomb with a timer set to go off in one hour and 15 minutes was in a classroom at Northern. Investigation by law enforcement found no evidence of a bomb or other device.

The call came in on the police department’s landline but originated from a wi-fi phone, Wittmer said, and further investigation revealed that similar unsubstantiated calls were received at other Montana universities at about the same time. It was determined that the calls likely originated in the Princeton, Minnesota, area, but no source has been identified.