On April 4, several schools across Central New York, including Canastota Central School District and Waterville Central School District in Central New York, received bomb threat emails. Other schools in Jefferson and Essex County were also targeted.
The Moriah Central School District reported receiving a generic email with no specifics around 8 a.m. The school was evacuated, but authorities found nothing, and students returned to class.
Governor Kathy Hochul’s office revealed that over 50 school districts in the state had received “disturbing ‘swatting’ threats,” prompting the governor to direct the New York State Police to investigate the threats and work with other law enforcement agencies to identify those responsible. This incident comes just a week after numerous schools across the state were affected by “swatting” calls threatening school shootings.
Waterville Central School District Superintendent Jennifer Spring disclosed that she and 40 other superintendents in the state received an email demanding money to “call off the bombs.” Although law enforcement determined the threat was not credible, officers searched Waterville Jr./Sr. High School and Memorial Park Elementary as a precaution. State Police announced that the investigation into this incident would be similar to the “fake swatting” incidents last week and might involve the FBI.
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