UPDATED: 2:33 p.m., Monday:
As details were spreading about a serious threat at Pennsbury High School, students at Council Rock High School North began texting their parents with similar news.
Council Rock High School North in Newtown Township was among the schools that were part of the widespread swatting hoax.
“In an abundance of caution, the school was placed on lockdown and first responders completed a sweep of the building, resulting in no credible threats identified at this time. The lockdown has since been lifted,” the Newtown Township Police Department said in a statement.
Local police and the FBI are investigating the threat at Council Rock North and other area schools.
“FBI Philadelphia is aware of a series of hoax threats made to schools across our area this morning. Currently, we have no information indicating a credible threat. We are working in close coordination with our local, state, and federal partners to rapidly gather, share, and act on any information that comes to our attention, including identifying and holding accountable those responsible for making these false reports. We ask the public to report these incidents to law enforcement immediately. The FBI can be reached at 1-800-CALL-FBI,” said FBI Philadelphia spokesperson Sofia Kettler.
The Council Rock School District said in a statement students resumed a normal schedule.
Pennsylvania State Police didn’t immediately provide a statewide total of incidents, but schools in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties reported similar threats, as well as schools in New Jersey. In addition to Pennsbury, Palisades High School in Upper Bucks County also dealt with a similar threat.
Monday’s widespread threats come after waves of similar incidents in recent years at high schools, colleges and universities, and Jewish centers.
On its website, the FBI warned that any threats against schools and public places are serious crimes.
“Issuing a threat—even over social media, via text message, or through e-mail—is a federal crime (threatening interstate communications). Those who post or send these threats can receive up to five years in federal prison, or they can face state or local charges,” the FBI said.
Federal authorities said the threats don’t just waste taxpayer resources, but they cause emotional distress to students, staff, and parents.
UPDATED: 10:13 a.m., Monday:
The district issued the following statement: “The lockdown has ended, and an all-clear has been issued. A thorough search of the building by police and the CR security team has deemed there is no credible threat.
“Council Rock North has resumed its regular Monday schedule.”
Original Story:
Council Rock High School North was placed under lockdown Monday after a “swatting” call.
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District officials confirmed that the high school in Newtown Township implemented emergency protocols after receiving the call.
Newtown Township police and nearby agencies were on the scene Monday afternoon to conduct a search of the building.
The incident at Council Rock appears to be part of a coordinated series of false reports, according to a note from the district to parents.
Similar threats were reported in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Berks, Delaware, and Philadelphia counties. Nearby Pennsbury High School let students out early due to a similar threat.
“This same call has affected several school districts in the area,” the Council Rock School District said in a statement.
Several school districts are locking down their campuses as a precaution.
Authorities are currently investigating the origin of the calls.
District officials said they will notify the community once a search of the high school is complete and an “all-clear” has been determined.
Swatting is the practice of making a false report to emergency services to trigger a large-scale police response to a specific address.
