HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 05-23 Minnesota school threats could be part of nationwide 'swatting' spree PIONEER PRESS5/26/2016
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No bomb found afer threat clears Forest Lake elementary
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May 23, 20161 UPDATED: 3 days ago
Threats made against schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin and elsewhere across the United States led to the
evacuation of students Monday in what could be the latest example of so-called "swatting" against schools.
In recent months, hoaxers playing online games have allegedly used proxy servers and other high-tech
identity -disguising tools to anonymously threaten schools online or in phone messages with electronic
voices to trigger a huge police response, including SWAT teams.
The latest threats led to the evacuation of schools in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Colorado,
Delaware, New Hampshire and Utah. Media outlets in the United Kingdom also reported evacuations.
In Minnesota, Forest Lake Elementary School was evacuated Monday afternoon after an anonymous bomb
threat. A search of the school turned up empty.
The threat was phoned in around 12:15 p.m., the school district said. School staff called 911. Forest Lake
police and fire responders evacuated the building, moving students and staff to other buildings in the
district. The school was searched and cleared by 2 p.m.
Maplewood Middle School also received a bomb threat around 12:15 p.m. Monday, according to school
district spokeswoman Cathleen Wiberg.
The school was evacuated, Maplewood law enforcement was called and officials conducted a sweep of the
building. Students and staff returned once it was deemed safe, Wiberg said.
A bomb threat at Ben Franklin Elementary School in Rochester resulted in students being sent to nearby
Mayo High School police said it was safe to return.
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5/26/2016
No bomb found afer threat clears Forest Lake elementary
Assistant Superintendent Brenda Lewis said the threat came in just before noon as an automated recording,
received on the main office phone. School officials elsewhere also described the calls as automated or
robotic.
In Wisconsin, threats were received at schools in Green Bay, Appleton, and Port Washington; and at schools
near Madison, Oshkosh and Kenosha.
Nationwide, the threats were made against elementary, middle and high schools, with some schools
choosing to continue classes and others to put buildings on lockdown rather than evacuate. Some schools
resumed classes after sweeps by authorities failed to turn up explosives or other threats.
Jaime DeLage and Marino Eccher contributed to this report.
Tags: Crime
Staff and wire reports
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