SOUTHBURY — A lockdown at a local high school was lifted today after authorities determined a threat against the school was not credible.
The Southbury Police Department received a third-party threat against the high school earlier in the day, prompting an immediate lockdown as law enforcement conducted a thorough search.
After a comprehensive assessment, it was confirmed that everyone was safe and the threat was unfounded.
This false alarm is similar to “swatting” incidents that have been reported across the country.
Swatting involves making a hoax call to emergency services in an attempt to bring a large number of armed police officers to a particular address.
The Region 15 School District released a statement informing that at around 10:25 a.m., police and school administration cleared the building and lifted the lockdown, allowing students to return to their classes.
The Southbury Police also noted that two other school districts in the area received identical threats, mirroring a pattern observed in a different state the previous day.
The investigation revealed that the threat originated from out of state, fitting a recent trend of swatting attacks.
Acknowledging the distress such incidents can cause, the district assured that additional police presence would be on site for the remainder of the day to help alleviate any fears.
School counselors and social workers were made available for students needing support.
The school district thanked parents, students, and staff for their cooperation and partnership during these challenging situations.
