Southampton Middle School Evacuated in Bel Air: Sheriff

BEL AIR, MD — A threat at a Bel Air middle school prompted officials to evacuate the campus Monday morning, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, which said students were starting to return Monday afternoon.

Officials said there was a “threat to school safety and operations” at Southampton Middle School on Moores Mill Road, students were cleared out and moved to St. Matthew Church off MD 22.

Someone had phoned in a bomb threat to the school at 10:47 a.m., according to The Aegis.

The sheriff’s office reported it scanned the school building to make sure it was safe, and by 12:15 p.m., students were returning to campus. The source of the threat was under investigation.

Southampton was one of several schools in Maryland, Virginia and Delaware that received a threat Monday morning. The FBI said it was too early to say it was investigating but the bureau was aware of the slew of threats, according to NBC Washington.

In Maryland, schools in Westminster and St. Mary’s County reportedly also received threats.

The evacuation in Bel Air came days after a lockdown at Havre de Grace High, where a student was taken into police custody Thursday after authorities said he sent a group text referencing a possible school shooting.

See Also:

• Westminster School Threat ‘Unsubstantiated,’ Carroll Sheriff Reports
• Elementary School Bomb Threat Monday in Stafford

Photo Credit: Southampton Middle School/Harford County Public Schools.

Full Statement from Harford County Sheriff’s Office:

UPDATE 12:15 PM. At this time, deputies have cleared the school and students are beginning to return to class. The source of the threat remains under investigation.

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating a threat to school safety and operations at Southampton Middle School in Bel Air. All students have been safely evacuated to St. Matthew’s Church. Once the building has been scanned and deemed safe, students will be able to return to class. The source of the threat is under investigation. We will keep you updated as information becomes available.