No Evidence Of Bomb At West Orange School After ‘Threat’: Officials

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Police closed the gymnasium at West Orange High School on Thursday after a “generic bomb threat” was shared on social media, but no evidence of a threat was found after a search, authorities said.

West Orange Superintendent C. Lauren Schoen and Assistant Superintendent Hayden Moore issued a statement about the police response. They wrote:

“This morning we became aware of a generic bomb threat. This threat was shared through a student’s social media group chat and we immediately contacted the West Orange Police Department. While the high school was not mentioned specifically, the threat alluded to an athletic event taking place at West Orange High School later this afternoon. The threat was quickly assessed by the West Orange Police Department along with Essex County Sheriff’s Department, who advised us to close off the high school’s Tarnoff Gymnasium to permit the Essex County Canine Unit to investigate. Following the investigation, the West Orange Police Department and the Essex County Sheriff's Department notified us that there was no evidence of a bomb or other threat inside the high school Tarnoff Gymnasium.”

Schoen and Moore added:

“We are sincerely appreciative of the West Orange Police Department's prompt response and the diligence of the Essex County Sheriff's Department for ensuring the safety of our staff and students. Out of the abundance of caution, we are grateful to the West Orange Police Department for providing police officers to support our security personnel at the activities scheduled for the Tarnoff Gymnasium. Thank you.”

Thursday’s incident isn’t the only “bomb threat” that has been recently reported in the district.

In late January, West Orange police responded to Roosevelt Middle School after getting a report about a possible bomb threat, which turned out to be “non-credible.” It happened after school counselors were made aware of an Instagram group chat involving several Roosevelt Middle School students, authorities said.

• See Related: 'Bomb Threat' At West Orange School Not Credible, Authorities Say

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