News today -- bomb threats

[Ohiogal]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Nationwide

There have been over three dozen bomb threats at schools today --primarily elementary schools.
Ohio had over a dozen all within minutes of each other. There were reports that it was a robocall making the bomb threats.
PA, AL, KY, NC, FL also had threats this morning at around the same time -- between 930 and 1045 this morning. Most of them were at elementary schools.

Twitter has picked it up with more bomb threats having happened this afternoon and continuing across the country.

What about your area?

 

[CdwJava]

None out here that I have heard about.

 

[LdiJ]

I haven't seen anything on the news at all.

 

[CdwJava]

I very rarely review Twitter even though I have an account (that I have NEVER posted to). If it's being passed along by Twitter, I'd be suspicious of the truth to begin with ... though there's likely at least a kernel of truth to it.

I still haven't seen anything on the news here about it.

 

[Ohiogal]

I very rarely review Twitter even though I have an account (that I have NEVER posted to). If it's being passed along by Twitter, I'd be suspicious of the truth to begin with ... though there's likely at least a kernel of truth to it.

I still haven't seen anything on the news here about it.

There are news stories:

http://whnt.com/2015/10/20/madison-police-investigating-apparent-bomb-threat-at-james-clemens-high/
http://cbs12.com/news/top-stories/stories/vid_30313.shtml
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/oh-cuyahoga/ramps-from-i-480-to-transportation-boulevard-closed-bomb-squad-in-area
http://portcitydaily.com/2015/10/20/two-schools-evacuated-one-under-lockdown-due-to-bomb-threat/
wlwt.com/news/new-round-of-bomb-threats-hit-some-sw-ohio-schools/35940716
http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/investigators-elementary-school-evacuated-due-poli/nn6RP/#st_refDomain=www.facebook.com&st_refQuery=/l.php?u=https://shar.es/1uxSRG&h=uAQH5IfRGAQFwxcwPRfLYmhud2xiCRfHK8iTK1pO1mNsF1Q&enc=AZPdpU16nKb94bMGcsolDQEjeNKcWLA2CY2J17wa5CanISFuUwizI6u0cSCjlTEfOaFM0LFYuzpPa4RjW25j3SWGzhT7FoeX9Sr6zyM2l79bKUx3REMBa4PiwYf9N84zlRWPOyjWo6bZ2fj8KDgGrX3eddprmQCRIPbG20QYRf-BTxFIiKIuVlkmJWq1IzEFgos&s=1

 

[CdwJava]

The info is probably trickling its way across the country then.

But, to be honest, it is probably NOT uncommon for a number of such threats to be delivered DAILY to a number of schools. Buried somewhere in my data for my Active Shooter program, I believe I have the data concerning the number of these reports that occur each day. I seem to recall that it was a dozen or so every day nationwide. Much of the "panic" we often see regarding such incidents is the amount of media coverage they receive and not necessarily that more of these events are occurring. We also know that the more coverage that such events get, the more such threats we will receive. I know that schools and the police do NOT like to publicize these events because they far too often lead to copycat threats and they just seem to balloon out of control for a while.

There are about 90 actual devices found each year in schools, but the number of threats is a number that is harder to nail down. Little more than 1% of the actual devices discovered were accompanied by a threat, so by the very nature of the threat, it is exceedingly unlikely that a bomb actually exists. Of course, the authorities kinda gotta act as if the threat is valid and that means kids get out of school early, miss tests, and get a day off ... so, there can be an incentive to make these threats.

A quick search of the matter finds that there have been a number of such threats in your state (Ohio) since late September.

 

[Ohiogal]

Per twitter:
Julian ‏@OfficialJools · 2m2 minutes ago
HAPPENING NOW Bomb threat at Pollard High in Corona. Students evacuated to South Hills Church @RubenNews @AndrewatFox
City of Corona Police Department has it posted on their facebook.

And it has now spread to other places:
http://wgil.com/v3/2015/10/20/osf-st-mary-on-lockdown-authorities-investigating-bomb-threat/
That "The lockdown ran from about 10:30 to 11:45 a.m."

Same time as many of the schools.
More:
A bomb threat at a Garfield Heights daycare this morning closed part of Transportation Boulevard, police said. (cleveland.com)(WEWS Channel 5)

 

[Ohiogal]

The info is probably trickling its way across the country then.

But, to be honest, it is probably NOT uncommon for a number of such threats to be delivered DAILY to a number of schools. Buried somewhere in my data for my Active Shooter program, I believe I have the data concerning the number of these reports that occur each day. I seem to recall that it was a dozen or so every day nationwide. Much of the "panic" we often see regarding such incidents is the amount of media coverage they receive and not necessarily that more of these events are occurring. We also know that the more coverage that such events get, the more such threats we will receive. I know that schools and the police do NOT like to publicize these events because they far too often lead to copycat threats and they just seem to balloon out of control for a while.

There are about 90 actual devices found each year in schools, but the number of threats is a number that is harder to nail down. Little more than 1% of the actual devices discovered were accompanied by a threat, so by the very nature of the threat, it is exceedingly unlikely that a bomb actually exists. Of course, the authorities kinda gotta act as if the threat is valid and that means kids get out of school early, miss tests, and get a day off ... so, there can be an incentive to make these threats.

A quick search of the matter finds that there have been a number of such threats in your state (Ohio) since late September.

I don't doubt it but there have been a huge number of reports today and they all on the east coast occurred about approximately the same time. And utilized robocalls according to some reports. I don't see it as a coincidence.

 

[CdwJava]

If they are robocalls, then something was set in motion via computer. That may get the FBI involved - probably not a smart thing to do. If they had kept it local, chances are that a lot of time would not have been expended in the effort. But, then, a local threat here and there would not make headlines outside of the home area.

And, if robocalls, the odds of an actual device being on site is infinitesimal ... but, theoretically possible, of course.

 

[Just Blue]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Nationwide

There have been over three dozen bomb threats at schools today --primarily elementary schools.
Ohio had over a dozen all within minutes of each other. There were reports that it was a robocall making the bomb threats.
PA, AL, KY, NC, FL also had threats this morning at around the same time -- between 930 and 1045 this morning. Most of them were at elementary schools.

Twitter has picked it up with more bomb threats having happened this afternoon and continuing across the country.

What about your area?

Not that I heard about here either....THANK GOD!

What kink of twisted fu...ahemm! FREAKS...do this stuff.

 

[ajkroy]

A few years ago we had bomb threats every day for over a week. We had to stand outside for hours in June. The first day was the worst...after that, I brought sunscreen and a book.

Turns out it was merely kids pulling a prank. But valuable education time was lost.

 

[Just Blue]

A few years ago we had bomb threats every day for over a week. We had to stand outside for hours in June. The first day was the worst...after that, I brought sunscreen and a book.

Turns out it was merely kids pulling a prank. But valuable education time was lost.

I don't see this as a "prank" in this day and age. A student did this a year or two ago at MIT...Because the student didn't want to take a test that day. There is a horrible "sickness" going on where kids and adults do not think about the chaos and expense they cause. Also with all the "prank" a REAL threat may not be taken seriously...How many may die then?

 

[CdwJava]

It's certainly not a "prank." Not only does it deprive students of education time, but it imposes serious angst and worry on some students and most parents, ties up massive public safety resources as, invariably, police and fire personnel will be called to the scene in sufficient numbers to secure and search the site. In many communities, this can mean that every available officer in a county - or nearly so - is tied up at the scene for what may be hours.

When identified, these "pranksters" can be, and likely WILL be, prosecuted, and may even be compelled to pay for the cost of the response (which can be in the many thousands of dollars). Unfortunately, the other crimes that are not responded to or identified, and investigations delayed as a result cannot be quantified.