Investigation continues after many Massachusetts schools report fake threats

DEDHAM, Mass. — Massachusetts State Police are continuing to investigate after dozens of school districts reported receiving threatening calls this week.

Officials in Milton, Norton, Lexington, Norwood, Gloucester, Salem, Lowell, Leominster, and Lynn reported receiving threats Wednesday, less than 24 hours after at least a dozen other districts were targeted Tuesday.

“For the second consecutive day, Massachusetts State Police units are responding to assist local police in multiple communities following bomb and shooting threats to schools,” state police said in a statement Tuesday. “Thus far every call has been determined to be a hoax.”

Between 10 a.m. and noon Tuesday, state police said schools in Springfield, Great Barrington, Greenfield, Clinton, Duxbury, Edgartown, Harwich and Fall River all received fake threats.

Schools in Chicopee, Cohasset, Concord, Ipswich, Fitchburg, Hingham and Dedham also received fake threats on Tuesday.

Police said the threats were all similar to each other and to threats made the day before on Monday. High schools in Amesbury, Charlestown, Chelmsford, East Boston, and North Attleboro all received hoax calls on Monday. Massachusetts State Police also responded to a fake threat at White Oak School in Westfield. State Police patrols, K9 units, Bomb Squad teams and local police all responded quickly and cleared every school until they determined the threats were fake. The Massachusetts State Police Fusion Center is investigating the source or sources of the threats.

The threats come as so-called “swatting” calls are increasing in school districts across the country.

Swatting is defined as the action of making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to evoke a large response (often a SWAT team) to a particular address.

Boston 25 News Security Analyst Dan Linskey said law enforcement keeping their guard up is of paramount importance.

“By doing this type of event and having hoax after hoax after hoax, it’s possible that law enforcement then lets down their guard,” Linskey said. “My concern is somebody is doing this to get people to take away that robust response and not respond as appropriately and quickly, and then something real happens.”

Linskey said it can be difficult to find the person responsible for swatting calls, and he thinks it’s possible all of the recent fake threats at local schools could be traced to the same person.

“I would assume most of these calls are connected,” Linskey said. “It’s possible copycats decided to jump in on it as well. It’s hard to trace these calls and takes some time, energy and effort.”

Linskey is encouraging the various police departments to release audio of the 911 calls to help in tracking down any suspects.

“Someone will hear a voice that they recognize, someone will talk about something, and those folks responsible for this activity need to be held accountable,” Linskey said. “They’re actually putting lives in danger.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for FBI Boston said, “The FBI is aware of the numerous swatting incidents wherein a report of an active shooter at a school is made and is working alongside our law enforcement partners in identifying the source of the hoax threats...It is important to note that law enforcement is going to use all available resources to investigate a school threat until we determine whether it is real or not. Investigating hoax threats drains law enforcement resources and diverts us from responding to an actual crisis. Hoax threats can shut down schools, cause undue stress and fear to the public, and cost taxpayers a lot of money.”

The FBI also urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity and individuals to law enforcement immediately.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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