Multiple high schools across Mass. receive bomb threats

BOSTON — It’s a familiar action for students at Lexington High School, walking from their classroom to the gym and field house when a bomb threat is called in.

On Monday, Lexington was one of at least 16 schools that received a similar threat from an automated voice message.

“Since it's already happened, no one takes it that seriously -- saying ‘oh it's a low level threat.’ If it were actually a big deal, we'd be evacuated like out of the school,” Ashwini Sarathy said.

As a precaution police swept the school, nothing was found.

FOX25 contacted the State Fire Marshal’s Office and learned that so far this year they have responded to 29 school bomb threats, 17 of which came in January. By comparison there were school bomb threats in the state for the entirety of 2015.

“There's a footprint there.  And eventually there will be a piece of evidence.  They'll make a mistake and they'll be brought to justice,” Former Boston Police Superintendent Dan Linskey said.

Linskey also said this is likely more than just someone having fun with a prank.

“Law enforcement is identifying any IP addresses, where it's coming from, trying to find out the systems it's gone thru, trying to find individuals who might've been involved in this, working together with other agencies, Interpol and other law enforcement agencies across the globe, trying to identify those who might be responsible for this,” he said.

>> MORE: Why recent bomb threats are hard for police to track

CONFIRMED THREATS:

AYER

State Police say a bomb threat was called into the Ayer-Shirley Regional School District. No further information was immediately available.

BILLERICA

Billerica Police tweeted just before 9:30 a.m. that Billerica Memorial High School received a phone message indicating a bomb threat. Crews conducted a sweep of the school and deemed the threat not credible.

Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational High School received a threat Monday morning, the schools Twitter account confirmed. The threat came in around 8:18 a.m. via robocall and was deemed not credible after a sweep of the building.

BRIGHTON

Boston Public schools confirm a bomb threat was called in around 8 a.m. The school was put into safe mode for 90 minutes.

BROOKLINE

Brookline Police tweeted just past 8 a.m. that a bomb threat had been called into Brookline High School. No further information was immediately available.

CAMBRIDGE

A bomb threat was called into the main office of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School at 7:35 a.m. Cambridge Police, school safety officers and maintenance staff conducted a sweep of the building. The threats was unfounded and the school day is expected to go on as scheduled.

CHARLESTOWN

Boston Public schools confirm a bomb threat was called in around 8 a.m. The school was put into safe mode for 90 minutes.

HOPKINTON

State Police say a bomb threat was called into the Hopkinton School District. No further information was immediately available.

HUDSON

Hudson Police say a bomb threat was called into the Hudson School District. Police and fire crews responded to the scene and secured the area. The building was checked and deemed safe.

LEOMINSTER

State Police say a bomb threat was called into the Leominster School District. The school was searched and has since been cleared.

LEXINGTON

The Town of Lexington tweeted out that Lexington High School had received a bomb threat. The threat came in as a robocall. Crews swept the building.

MARLBOROUGH

Marlborough Police say that Marlborough High School received a bomb threat around 8 a.m. No further information was immediately available.

MEDWAY

Town officials confirm that a bomb threat was reported at Medway High School Monday morning.

MELROSE

Melrose police say that Melrose High School received a bomb threat Monday morning via robocall. Melrose High School and Middle School had a temporary shelter in place while a sweep was performed. The threat was not found to be credible.

NEWTON 
A bomb threat was called into Newton North High School Monday morning. The building has since been cleared.

SOMERVILLE
A bomb threat was called in to Somerville City Hall at 8:52 a.m. The building was later deemed safe.

STONEHAM
Stoneham Police confirmed via Twitter that Stoneham High School received a bomb threat Monday morning. Police and fire crews checked the building and determined the threat was "very low."

TEWKSBURY
Tewksbury police confirm that the High School received a bomb threat Monday morning.

WAKEFIELD

Wakefield Police say that Wakefield High School received a bomb threat around 8 a.m. No further information was immediately available.

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