24 Bomb Threats In Waltham Appear To Be Hoaxes: Police

WALTHAM, MA — The bomb threat directed at Waltham Public Schools today was one of about two dozen emailed bomb threats sent across the city today, according to Waltham Police.

"On Wednesday August 30, 2017 numerous bomb threats were e-mailed to twenty four City locations. These locations were evacuated and searched by Waltham Police Officers, Waltham Fire personnel an personnel from the various buildings," said the police in a statement.

Although these threats seem to be “hoax” threats, the Waltham Police Department said it is actively investigating the situation because there have been other numerous threats occurring throughout the previous weeks.

"Each one of these threats are taken seriously and evaluated on a case by case basis," said the statement.

Today's incident at the School

Today Superintendent Drew Echelson sent a note home to families alerting families that schools received another emailed threat prompting a lockdown.

This threat marks the 16th bomb threat in the city reported this year, according to police data.

A woman who picked up the the phone at the Waltham superintendent's office said students were back in school as of 1:15 p.m. She said the superintendent was not available immediately for comment. Yesterday was the first day of school.

After the school consulted with the police, they had the students evacuate while police searched the buildings, according to the note. In July, Waltham school buildings were evacuated because of a similar threat, Patch reported.

The count

Before today Patch counted 16 reported bomb threats so far this year.

In the past month the Waltham Library, Brandeis, the Waltham District Court and at least one other home and a hotel have been targeted by bomb threats. Patch reported that most of those came in via email.

At midnight and then again at 4:08 a.m. on Aug. 23, Waltham Police recorded they got a call reporting a bomb threat at 144 Summer Street. That wasn't the first time. On Aug. 13 at 2:13 a.m. the police responded to another threat there.

According to police data before today, Waltham police have received at least eight reports of bomb threats this month and seven reports last month, including several schools, an urgent care on Main Street and one at a rental property on 144 Summer Street, owned by Waltham business owner Oscar LeBlanc, and father of city councilor Randy LeBlanc.

In February there was one bomb threat reported at the Plympton school, according to police records. There were no bomb threats reported again until July when seven were recorded. Then so far there were eight reported including one at an assisted living on Lexington Street.

Waltham Police told Patch earlier they would not give out much information because it is an ongoing investigation.

"I can say it's under investigation and we take every threat seriously," said a spokesperson for the Waltham Police earlier this week.

At 1:43 the City of Waltham Tweeted out the all clear: