Schools

Tik Tok School Threat Not Credible: Toms River District Alert

A nationwide "challenge" on the social media app warning of school violence on Friday "is not credible" at this time, the district said.

A nationwide trend on Tik Tok warns of potential school shootings on Friday. Toms River Regional Schools officials said there have been no threats to the district the warning is "not credible."
A nationwide trend on Tik Tok warns of potential school shootings on Friday. Toms River Regional Schools officials said there have been no threats to the district the warning is "not credible." (Photo Illustration by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A nationwide "challenge" on the social media app Tik Tok warning of the potential for school violence on Friday has prompted an alert from Toms River Regional School District saying there is no threat locally.

The alert, sent by email Thursday afternoon to parents, staff and students, said the challenge is a generic threat and the district was alerted to it by the state Department of Education's Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning.

"No specific threat has been made toward any TRRS (Toms River Regional Schools) school, but we are nevertheless in communication with the Toms River Police Department" and the police departments in the three sending towns, Beachwood, Pine Beach and South Toms River, the email said.

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"At this time, this is not a credible threat," the email said, "Tomorrow, however, you may notice an increase in police presence and communication."

"Please know that although this particular social media warning is generic and deemed not credible, we will continue to closely monitor any and every situation in the interest of safety and security," the message said.

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"Should additional information be provided, our district and/or our schools will issue immediate communication," the email said.

Schools throughout New Jersey were issuing similar statements and bolstering their law enforcement presence to reassure students, staff and parents on Friday.

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