PORTLAND, Oregon — Multiple school districts in Oregon received similar threats via email on Monday, prompting them to release students from class early as a precaution.
At least three school districts received threats about a bomb or explosive and another school district said it was looking into a "safety concern." Several law enforcement agencies that responded to the schools have said no devices have been found. There have also been no reported injuries.
The FBI's Portland office acknowledged the threats, with Special Agent in Charge Kieran Ramsey issuing a statement late Monday:
"The FBI is aware of several threatening e-mail messages that were recently sent to various Oregon schools, airports and houses of worship. While the FBI has no information to indicate these threats are credible at this time, public safety agencies can never simply discount such threats as a nuisance. Hoax threats put innocent people at risk and can easily distract and deplete limited public safety resources. We recognize these threats have already been extremely disruptive to classrooms and elsewhere. The FBI will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to determine if the threats are connected in any way and we will act upon threat information as it comes to our attention. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately."
Here's what the school districts and local law enforcement have said about each case, as of Monday afternoon.
Cascade School District
In Marion County, the Cascade School District received a "generic threat by email to all of our schools that is not imminent," the district said on its website. The district released students "out of an abundance of caution" and is working with police and sheriff's departments.
The Marion County Sheriff's Office said staff notified them about a bomb threat around 10:45 a.m. Deputies searched all school buildings and cleared them, according to the sheriff's office. All students have been picked up by parents or returned to the schools. The sheriff's office has requested help from the local FBI office to investigate.
The district canceled all activities for the day.
Corbett School District
In the Columbia River Gorge, schools in Corbett were evacuated after an "explosives threat" was made via email two staff members, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. The threat didn't mention Corbett schools specifically, but said that explosives would detonate in three areas.
"We are aware that multiple schools received the same or similar types of threats," the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office said.
Students were evacuated and taken to Corbett Community Church where they were picked up by their parents.
All school activities have been canceled.
The sheriff's office later said all school buildings had been searched and cleared.
Central Linn School District
Around noon, an administrative employee with the Central Linn School District told dispatchers that they received a "threatening email stating there was a bomb in the school," according to the Linn County Sheriff's Office. The schools were evacuated and deputies search the building for anything suspicious.
No suspicious devices have been found so far, the Linn County Sheriff's office said at 1:22 p.m.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office takes all threats seriously and are working diligently to ensure the safety of all children and employees at the schools," the sheriff's office said.
Colton School District
Students in the Colton School District, just northeast of Molalla, were released early due to a "safety concern."
"Due to a (safety) concern all students will be released while we look into this matter," the district said in a post
published on their website just before noon.
The Colton School District didn't release any additional information surrounding the "safety concern."
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said the district received a threat via email and investigators believe it's released to similar threats that have been directed to other districts in the region.
All afternoon and evening activities have been canceled.
School threats outside Oregon
Oregon wasn't the only state that received threats against school districts on Monday. School districts in Ohio also received threats. This comes on the heels of Texas schools receiving threats last week.
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