Update 11:17am: New York State Police say they are working with local law enforcement agencies to track down the source of the threats.
Update 10:41am: Police believe the threats were a hoax. Law enforcement has remained on the scene of a number of schools as a precaution.
Police are investigating a series of threats made targeting schools across the Capital Region.
There were reports of an active shooter at Albany High School Friday morning, however Albany Police said those reports are unfounded.
A similar threat was made against the East Greenbush School District, which is currently on lockdown as police investigate. The school district confirmed the news on their website:
All schools remain in a lockdown as a precaution and we continue to be in contact with law enforcement. Superintendent Simons is providing updates periodically to our students and staff via the district-wide PA system. School campuses remain closed.
The Schodack School District also confirmed a threat, Maple Hill High School is on lockdown while other district schools are on lockout – meaning nobody can enter or exit the building.
Police believe this is a case of ‘swatting’ and News 10 says threats have also been reported at Columbia High School and Troy High School. Police say this ‘swatting’ has been happening in different areas of New York State.
feature photo: Jason Lawrence, Flickr Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0)