Hoax Alerts Cause Chaos at Two Major Universities

Reports of an active shooter at Villanova University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga led to panic and lockdowns as both institutions kicked off their fall semesters. The chaos unfolded as Pennsylvania authorities responded to a 911 call about a shooter in a Villanova law school building.

Students received alerts urging them to secure locations while Villanova's president later confirmed the scare was a hoax. Similar actions were taken at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, prompting law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to investigate—only to find no threat.

The incidents, causing anxiety among students and families, are under investigation by authorities who emphasize the potential criminal nature of such hoaxes. Concerns are heightened, considering the universities' geographical and social prominence, such as Villanova's recent attention as Pope Leo XIV's alma mater.

(With inputs from agencies.)