LCTI students evacuated after another bomb threat
Three Allentown schools lock down in wake of tips
Threats reported on Safe2Say stopped classes Monday at the Lehigh Career & Technical Institute and caused lockdowns at several Allentown schools, the latest set of disruptions to school activities due to threats on the anonymous tip line.
LCTI remained closed Monday after students were evacuated in the morning due to a bomb threat. Three schools in Allentown School District were temporarily placed on lockdowns in the afternoon due to threats of violence.
LCTI received multiple threats about 9:30 a.m., according to its website. LCTI students subsequently walked from campus across a field to the Schnecksville fire house — less than a mile away — as part of their emergency evacuation plan, according to Donald Jacobs, North Whitehall Township fire marshal and public information officer.
Jacobs said about 1,100 students gathered at the fire house. Students were bused back to their home high schools; those who came by car were picked up by parents at the fire house.
Based in North Whitehall, LCTI provides career and technical programs for about 2,700 high school students from Lehigh County’s nine public school districts.
State police at Bethlehem are investigating the threats. Police searched the building for explosives and none were found, a state police news release said. LCTI classes will resume Tuesday.
LCTI students had just returned to school Monday after a bomb threat closed the campus Friday. LCTI was also closed Oct. 28 as police investigated a threat made against the school. State troopers will be increasing their presence at the school, police said.
In Allentown, Dieruff High School went into lockdown at 12:15 p.m. following tips through Safe2Say about a potential shooting and violence.
At 1:15 p.m., Allen High School and Trexler Middle School also went into lockdown after Safe2Say tips were received about a bomb threat and a potential shooting.
The threats were not found to be credible and the lockdowns were lifted, according to Allentown police.
Dieruff High School also dismissed students last Thursday after receiving a Safe2Say tip about a potential shooting planned at the school. Police later said the tip was not credible.