More Details Released In 'Swatting' Incident At Westport School; Lockdown Lifted: UPDATE

WESTPORT, CT — The temporary lockdown at Bedford Middle School Monday morning has been lifted, as police investigate a "swatting" incident at the school, according to officials.

Additionally, a shelter-in-place order for students and staff at nearby Staples High School has also been lifted, authorities said.

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According to officials, several schools in Connecticut were hit by swatting incidents on Monday.

Westport police released the following statement about the incident:

At approximately 10:32am on Monday, June 8, 2026, Bedford
Middle School, located at 88 North Avenue, received a threat via telephone call placed to the main office. The caller reported that explosive devices had been placed within the school and that armed individuals were currently inside it. Westport Police with the assistance of mutual aid from neighboring agencies were immediately notified and responded to secure the premises and investigate. Bedford Middle School was placed into a lockdown protocol. Although there was no incident occurring there, neighboring Staples High School was also placed into an approximately hour-long shelter in place protocol as a precaution.

Westport officers assisted by officers and canine units from Fairfield, Norwalk and the Connecticut State Police as well as the Stamford Police Department’s Bomb Squad conducted multiple systematic sweeps and searches of the premises. After an exhaustive search, no threats or explosive devices were located, and the lockdown protocol was lifted at approximately noon.

Shortly after the initial call was received by the school, other agencies around the state began receiving calls of a similar nature, suggesting that this was potentially part of an organized hoax. The origins of the telephone call threat remain an active investigation by the Westport Police Department.

Westport Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice released the following real-time statements about the ongoing incident:

Initial statement: There is an active incident taking place at Bedford Middle School. The Westport Police Department has informed us that this is likely a swatting incident. There have been multiple swatting reports like this one across the state this morning.

Swatting is making malicious hoax calls to emergency services to falsely report an ongoing emergency, such as a violent crime or explosive device at a certain location.

However, the Westport Police Department and Westport Public Schools will take all necessary precautions to investigate and secure the school building.

Bedford Middle School is currently in lockdown; we ask that parents not come to campus so that the first responders can complete their work efficiently and swiftly.

In addition, Staples High School is in a shelter-in-place due to the fact that it is a shared campus. There has been no incident reported at Staples. A shelter-in-place means classes will continue, but there will be no entry or exiting from the building until the shelter-in-place is lifted.

All other schools continue to have their regular police presence and normal operations.

We will provide an update when more information is available.

Update #1: We have been provided an update from the Westport Police Department. Based on their response and investigation, the shelter in place at Staples High School has been lifted and classes are resuming with normal activity. The response at Bedford continues and it is expected that the lockdown will be lifted shortly following the completion of the work of our first responders.

Update #2: The lockdown at Bedford was lifted at 11:57am. The inside of the building has been cleared. The protocol has shifted from “Lockdown” to “Secure the School”. Students and staff are permitted to move within the building and conduct normal operations. This is done in order to provide the first responders the opportunity to clear the campus of their inspection and equipment.

The administrative team is working with our counselors to develop a modified schedule for the remainder of the day. More importantly, the team is also working to communicate with students and staff to provide modified activities for the remainder of the day, sensitive to the fact that this has been a difficult morning for all.

While instruction may continue as appropriate, faculty are encouraged to prioritize activities that help students feel safe, connected, and regulated. Community-building conversations, opportunities for reflection, stress-management strategies, relationship-building activities, and any activities that create space for students to process the day are encouraged.

More than anything, our students will benefit from seeing the calm, caring, and supportive adults they trust. Your presence and reassurance matter greatly.

I want to thank our first responders team, led by the Westport Police Department, in addition to the support provided by police and emergency responders from Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford and the CT State Police, for their actions in helping us resolve

These updates are in real time so please forgive the brevity. I will provide a more comprehensive update later today.