'Swatting' is Act of Terrorism, Princeton Police Chief Says

Most of the time, students are just confined to the school.

On two occasions, they were forced to stay in the classroom, and even move into the closet, where they could only listen through a wall while an administrator yelled, “I’m coming in.”

No matter the situation, the school day always resumes, but it would be difficult not to let the disruption linger.

Princeton has had between 12 and 14 incidents of ‘swatting’ – fake bomb threats delivered via pre-recorded message – this year. Six of them were in the school district, and two of them involved students being put in a lockdown situation like the one described above.

Princeton Police Chief Nicholas Sutter called it an “act of terrorism” at a town hall meeting on recent swatting incidents at the John Witherspoon Middle School on Wednesday evening.

“This isn’t a juvenile who’s pulling a prank,” he said.

At least one lockdown was necessary because the person delivering the threat said they were in the building.

Most incidents result in a “shelter in place” situation, in which students are permitted to walk around the school, but not leave the building.

Each threat is being taken seriously, even though there are no indications any incident ever proved to be a real threat, Sutter told a group of parents that attended Wednesday night’s meeting.

He said the police department is in contact with the FBI on the epidemic, which he described as terrorism, every day.

Sutter was joined by Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert and Princeton Superintendent of Schools Steve Cochrane.

Swatting began as a prank online video game players would play on each other. One gamer would call in a threat directed at another gamer’s home, and watch online via that person’s computer camera as cops searched their home.

In those situations, gamers would go online and claim responsibility. They saw it as a badge of honor in a way. Police saw it as a way to catch them.

The epidemic has expanded.

It is no longer confined to video games. Now, school districts, malls, hospitals, airplanes, even the White House briefing room and the U.S. Capitol Building are all victims, and law enforcement agencies expect the epidemic to expand further.

Only this time, there’s no one online taking credit.

The epidemic is nationwide, and as many as 19 places have been threatened in one day, Sutter said.

“Princeton is experiencing it as much as or maybe more than anyone,” Sutter said, adding there have easily been hundreds of incidents nationwide. “We are definitely being targeted, but we’re not the only ones.”

He said Holmdel has had problems with swatting as well, and when the epidemic began in Princeton, they consulted Holmdel for advice.

“Callers are using internet based phones, using technology that’s widely available that can mask their identity,” Sutter said. “The best cyber experts in the country are working on this.”

He said the recent arrest of a woman who allegedly called in threats to the Ocean County Mall seems to be unrelated to the rest of the incidents nationwide.

“It seems to me like that was a copycat,” Sutter said, adding they would’ve known otherwise by now.

A total of seven threats have been reported in Princeton over the past month, including threats at the Riverside School and Johnson Park Schoolon Friday.

On May 19, Johnson Park Elementary School received a pre-recorded threat, and a threat was made to a home on Jefferson Road later that night.

A threat was directed at Riverside School on April 28.

John Witherspoon Middle School received a similar threat on May 12.

Princeton High School received a threat that resulted in Shelter in Place on May 21.

In each case, police were there within a minute.

Cochrane praised the partnership between the police department and the school district, and said he was thankful for the rapid police response.

He also said a plan is in place should an incident arise during graduation, and should the incidents continue during summer school sessions.

Officials said guidance counselors, school psychologists and other social workers are available for any students having a particularly hard time with the threats. Parents should also contact the school if their children have any lingering questions.

“It’s hard to deal with,” Cochrane said. “I was on hand for one threat and I heard the words directly. I was shaken up.”

He also said changes in school policy would be decided next year, and that the district wants to maintain a balance between security and a sense of normalcy for students and parents.

Sutter said police have a presence in the district, with officers rotating among the schools in the district every day.

He also said plans are in place for public areas should the threats continue and expand this summer.

“I have two kids in the school district and I understand the stress this has caused for parents,” Lempert said. “Princeton’s been hit hard.”

“As a police officer, we take the trust you put in us seriously,” Sutter said. “We’re not letting up. We’re doing everything in our power to put a stop to this.”