A bomb threat at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) campus in Mexicali forced the university to suspend all in-person classes on Tuesday morning, April 14. The threat, which circulated via WhatsApp and social media the night before, prompted a large security response across multiple campus buildings. No explosive device was found.
Security Sweep Involved Army, Police, and K9 Units
Municipal police, firefighters, the Mexican Army, and investigators from the state prosecutor’s office (FGE) responded to the campus on Avenida Álvaro Obregón in central Mexicali. Teams with K9 units swept several faculty buildings, including the faculties of Pedagogy, Languages, Arts, Sports, and Political and Social Sciences.
Preliminary inspections at all locations concluded with no positive results. Authorities found no explosive devices on the campus grounds.
Classes Shifted Online for the Day
UABC moved all classes to a virtual format for the duration of Tuesday. The university’s Mexicali campus is the institution’s main campus and headquarters, serving thousands of the school’s approximately 54,000 students across multiple academic units spread throughout the city.
The threat initially appeared on WhatsApp on the evening of Monday, April 13, before spreading to other social media platforms. By Tuesday morning, university officials had decided to suspend face-to-face instruction as a precaution while security forces conducted their sweeps.
UABC’s Mexicali Campus Is the University’s Largest
UABC, founded in 1957, is the largest public university in Baja California. It operates three main campuses in Mexicali, Tijuana, and Ensenada, along with five sub-campuses and three units of basic formation in smaller communities. The Mexicali campus houses the majority of the university’s degree programs. Dr. Daniel Octavio Valdez Delgadillo serves as the university’s president.
Bomb threats targeting Mexican universities have occurred periodically in recent years, often spread through anonymous social media messages. Authorities in Baja California have urged residents not to share unverified threats on messaging platforms, as doing so can amplify panic and complicate law enforcement response.
The incident was first reported by Jornada BC and confirmed by N+ Noticias.