Out-of-State Teen Claims Responsibility For Barrington HS Bomb Threat

BARRINGTON, IL — Police are looking at a video posted by a teen on TikTok who claims to have made a phony bomb threat to Barrington High School earlier this week. Similar videos of the teen calling in fake bomb threats to other high schools in Michigan, California, Alabama, Texas and Arizona were also posted on TikTok.

The hoax bomb threats are part of an alarming trend called “swatting,” where a person reports false danger to draw a significant police response at a particular address.

“We’re looking at the video and others,” said Deputy Chief John Burke, of the Barrington Police Department. “We’re looking at all of them and taking to other jurisdictions.”

After the first threat was made Monday afternoon, the high school received other threats, causing classes to be cancelled the rest of the day. The Cook County Bomb Squad searched the school with bomb sniffing dogs and determined the building was safe to reopen on Tuesday.

Brandon Pustelak, a south suburban IT professional specializing in cybersecurity, shared the Barrington High School TikTok video and others of a male teen with Patch, showing a teen who claims to be 15 years old and residing in another Midwestern state. Patch is not using the teen’s name or sharing the video of the call purportedly made to Barrington High School. No arrests have been made in the swatting call.

In the 26-second video of the Barrington call, the teen is walking outside. The name “Barrington High School” can be seen on the cellphone screen.

“I placed a bomb in your school, and it’s going to detonate in 30 minutes, so if you want to survive –," the teen says when a staff member answers.

“I’m sorry, I can’t hear a word you're saying, one moment please,” the staff member says.

A second staff member jumps on the call: “Hello, may I help you?”

“I placed a bomb in your school, and it’s going to detonate in 30 minutes. Allahu Akbar,” the teen says before disconnecting, using the Arabic phrase “God is most great,” used in Muslim prayers.

The call follows the same pattern as other fake bomb threats placed at schools in Texas, Arizona, Michigan, Alabama and California that Pastulek was able to find on the teen’s TikTok account. The voice is the same, and the teen’s reflection can be seen on the cellphone screen. In videos, the teen says he’s tired of being bullied and has placed bombs in the school, in some cases two bombs, “in case the other bomb is found.” Each of those call ends with “Allahu Akbar” before disconnecting.

Pustelak, who volunteers his services for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Operation Underground Railroad, Trace Labs and the Innocent Lives Foundation, told Patch he discovered the TikTok videos by accident

"I was actually scrolling through TikTok, and it randomly caught my eye," Pustelak said. "I discovered the individual's username from TikTok. I started doing open source intelligence, which led me to Telegram, a discord server and YouTube."

Casting a long digital footprint, the teen advertises his services on Telegram. He offers to place fake bomb threats at kids’ schools “so they can get out of school early,” according to numerous posts and videos on the social media platform. He offers to make the calls for $15 via Cash App, PayPal and Venmo, all tied to the teen’s username or variation of, on TikTok and Telegram.

“Bomb threats are open now!!!! If you want a bomb threat send $15 to [REDACTED] and PLEASE MAKE SURE you put your schools (sic) number in the notes so I can call them.”

In a TikTok video from last Friday, the teen says “boom” threats are closed until Monday.

“If I didn’t call your s**t, just let me know. I’ll refund your money,” the teen says in a video. “I’m not a scammer. I do this s**t for real … Meantime, I’ll be making spiritual content until I come back Monday and go back to demon time where I’ll be making bomb threats. I made $5,000 today.”

The teen also asks kids to record themselves evacuating their school. In addition to bomb threats, the teen offers to blackmail teachers “so they get fired” and change students’ grades by hacking into their school’s IT system. The teen claims to be an A-student, and offers test-taking services “so you can get an A.”

A Telegram account apparently belonging to the teen contained sarcastic comments from other Telegram members: “Bro, you just admitted to committing felonies.” Pastulek told Patch the teen’s Instagram account, where the teen purportedly promoted his illegal services, had been recently suspended.

It’s not known if the teen was tied to any of the multiple calls placed April 12 in 19 Illinois communities about active school shooters and bombs in schools, all proven to be false. Crank calls were reported at Whitney Young High School in Chicago and Oak Lawn Community High School in the south suburbs.

Since the rash of the troubling swatting calls, local police departments are working with Illinois State Police and the FBI, according to a south suburban police source. The FBI was convening a national partner call Wednesday afternoon, where local law enforcement was asked to participate.

Related:

Classes Resume At Plymouth High School After Bomb Threat Hoax

Multiple False Reports Of Illinois School Shootings Investigated: Cops

Hoax School Shooter Swat Call Threatens OLCHS During Student Events

Bomb Squad At Barrington High School After 'Swatting' Incident: Police