Pennsylvania schools have been a hot bed for terror-related threats over the last week, and state troopers are trying to figure out why there has been an influx in incidents on both the local and statewide level.
The incidents started when a bomb threat was reported at Penns Manor Junior/Senior High School on Monday. Since then, shooting threats were at Conemaugh Valley, Altoona, Ridgeway, Ligonier Valley, and Armstrong High Schools, bringing the total number of terror-related threats to six in the last five days.
Troop A Public Information Officer Cliff Greenfield called the number of threats “very disheartening” and he said troopers are doing the best they can locating sources and credibility of the threats. He encourages students to stop sharing threats on social media, as it increases the anxiety in communities, but he adds students have done a formidable job reporting threats to police.
Greenfield also talked about the due process when dealing with juveniles that are responsible for these threats. In the case of the suspect involved in the Penns Manor bomb threat, he said juveniles are handled differently than adults.
If you come across terror-related threats, you are urged to report them immediately using the Safe2Say anonymous tip line, to police, or to 911. Students can also report threats to school staff members.
You can hear more from Tpr. Greenfield’s interview on “A Closer Look,” airing this weekend on WCCS and on Indiana in the Morning next week.
