More Threats Reported Across Several MA Schools: UPDATED

More than a dozen communities in Massachusetts received bomb threats targeted at schools Tuesday, according to Massachusetts State Police. The rash of threats comes after at least eight schools were threatened on Friday.

The State Police bomb squad along with explosive ordinance technicians from other law enforcement agencies responded or are currently responding to the multiple bomb threats reported across the state. According to police, some schools have already been cleared.

State Police said schools in the following communities received threats:

• Groton
• Weymouth
• Taunton
• Arlington
• Plymouth
• Salisbury
• Waltham
• Ayer
• Tewksbury
• Newton
• Billerica
• Swampsott
• Boston
• Kingston
• Westford (Nashoba Valley Tech)

Patch’s detailed coverage of threats in Massachusetts:

• Arlington High School in Arlington
• Weymouth High School in Weymouth
• Plymouth South High School in Plymouth
• Swampscott High School in Swampscott
• Fitzgerald Elementary School in Waltham
• Newton North High School in Newton

Some of the threats were made by phone and the others were made via an automated call. State Police said they are not releasing the nature of the threats, however several local law enforcement agencies reported receiving calls where callers stated bombs would go off.

In Arlington, police received a threat saying “bombs in backpacks would explode”. Police and fire officials cleared the building although students were dismissed early. Similarly, police in Waltham received a threat from a caller who stated, “there was a detonator and they were going to detonate a bomb.” The threat was directed towards Fitzgerald Elementary School. The school was evacuated and students were sent to the St. Jude school..

A “low-level threat” at Weymouth High School caused a lockdown that has since been lifted. Classes resumed at Plymouth South High School around 11:30 a.m. after officials received a threat via an automated phone call.

Another threat via an automated phone call at Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School was unfounded but students were dismissed early. In Billerica, the threat was unfounded. A sweep was conducted of each building and there will continue to be police presence at the schools.

The latest threat called into the Swampscott Police Headquarters around 11:45 a.m. led to the evacuation of the high school. Nothing suspicious was found and the building was expected to reopen shortly.

“State Police attached to the Commonwealth Fusion Center are assisting the FBI with a coordinated investigation into the source or sources of the threats. The Fusion Center is also compiling information about the threats to share with local law enforcement agencies and fire departments across the state and other Fusion Centers in the United States,” a statement from Massachusetts State Police said.

SEE ALSO:

• BREAKING: Multiple Threats Reported At North Jersey High Schools

Stay with Patch for the latest on this developing story.