Hoax: Bomb Threat Forces Salem Witchcraft Heights Elementary School Evacuation On Friday

SALEM, MA — A bomb threat that forced the evacuation of Witchcraft Heights Elementary School in Salem on Friday was determined to be a hoax, according to Salem police.

Salem's Witchcraft Heights Elementary School was evacuated late Friday morning because of the bomb threat. Police searched the building and determined at about 1:30 p.m. that the threat was a hoax and the scene was cleared.

Police had said based on a preliminary investigation at about 12:45 p.m. that the threat "appears to be a hoax."

"Out of an abundance of caution, the school has been evacuated and teams are searching the school," police said earlier in the afternoon. "Please avoid the area as police teams secure the area around the school."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)