Westport Schools Have Successful Day Despite Non-Credible Threats

WESTPORT, CT — Westport Public Schools enjoyed "a very successful day" Friday despite social media posts circulating this week regarding potential school violence that day, which district officials noted Thursday were not credible.

According to Police Lt. Dave Wolf, everything ran smoothly at schools in town Friday and "nothing of note occurred."

In an email Friday afternoon, Superintendent Thomas Scarice said preemptive measures taken by the district and police assured students and faculty felt safe throughout the school day.

"The preemptive measures, through a strong collaboration with the Westport Police Department, served to reassure members of our faculty and student body," Scarice said, "however, after enduring such trying times this year and last year, our team of teachers, support staff and administrators provided our students with as much normalcy as possible in light of the social media reports this week."

Authorities noted Thursday state police and the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection were closely monitoring a rash of TikTok posts that have been circulating on social media that there would be threats against schools on Friday.

The Connecticut Intelligence Center has been investigating and monitoring the social media trend, but the center has not yet identified any specific or credible threats to any schools within Connecticut.

See also: TikTok December 17 Challenge Has CT Police, Schools On High Alert

"These posts and rumors started on the social media platform TikTok and have been circulating for at least several days across the country, making their way onto additional social media platforms," state police said. "Many law enforcement agencies around the country have received tips related to these rumors. It is possible that the threats originated from a TikTok challenge to skip school on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021."