Schools targeted in wave of threats

Robocall hoaxes across the USA may be seeking massive police response

A wave of threats directed at schools across the nation forced authorities to lock down buildings or evacuate students.

The threats, which appear to be driven by automated calls, have been directed at elementary, middle and high schools in states across at least four time zones.

Some districts reported that the calls included a bomb threat while others just described the calls as “threatening.”

The calls were reported in California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

Ken Trump, a national school security expert and president of a school security consulting firm, said Monday’s nationwide hoaxes have the hallmarks of swatting.

Swatting, according to Trump, are “highly disruptive” hoax threats that are intended to trigger massive police response. Trump said they are often described as computergenerated voices that call in threats to schools or police departments.

A single swatting case can impact multiple states, jurisdictions and even travel across international borders, Trump said. “They tend to come in waves,” he said.

Trump said swatting incidents have “skyrocketed” nationwide in the past two years. “( Swatting) suspects are often more sophisticated,” he said. “They can use Voice Over IP ( Internet Protocol) systems or other technologies that can be virtually impossible to track.”

The FBI said in a statement: “We are aware of recent bomb threats ... and we remain in touch with our law enforcement partners to provide assistance if needed.”

In the United Kingdom, at least 21 schools received bomb threats as well, according to The Independent. The Daily Mail reported 26 schools were closed.

The USA TODAY NETWORK has not confirmed that any of the threats are connected.