Several Massachusetts schools have received threats as authorities investigate what Massachusetts State Police described as false swatting calls across the country Monday.
Dismissal at Charlestown High School took place as scheduled, but it came after the school went into safe mode.
This after a threat came into Boston Police about a possible shooter on their way to the school.
Police searched the school but nothing suspicious was found.
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“We went on lockdown,” said Charlestown High School Junior Kamiylah Nafrere. “We locked our doors. Very disruptive because kids are trying to learn in school and they can’t learn because they’re being threatened.”
A similar threat was made at East Boston High, and in Amesbury where police say they got a call about a man with a gun near the high school, and what sounded like gunshots could be heard in the background.
“Officers went door to door ensuring all the students were safe and secure in their classrooms,” said Amesbury Police Chief Craig Bailey. “Once we ensured that the inside of the school was secure and the exterior was secure, we started canvassing the area, going house to house.”
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It’s believed these were all swatting incidents, prank calls that send swarms of police to a specific location.
Just last week, schools in Vermont and Michigan were targeted as well, with fake calls also threatening school violence.
“It’s upsetting to think there are people out there that would waste everybody’s time to make phone calls like this,” said Bailey.
Nobody was injured, but it did bring the school day to a halt.
In a statement, Boston’s superintendent Mary Skipper said, in part, these calls created anxiety and stress.
”We condemn this hoax that happened here and in communities across Massachusetts,” wrote Skipper.
It’s unknown if investigators have been able to track down the source of these calls.
There were similar pranks today at schools in Westfield, North Attleboro and Chelmsford.
This is a breaking story. NBC10 Boston will provide more details as they come into the newsroom.
