TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – The FBI is investigating bomb threats emailed to several schools across Ohio that officials have determined aren’t credible, multiple districts and law enforcement agencies said Sunday night.
The emails claimed to be a Russian organization targeting American schools, officials said. The Ohio Homeland Security/Terrorism Analysis Unit and the Statewide Terrorism Analysis & Crime Center determined the emails were part of a swatting campaign.
Districts that received the threats, including Sandusky City Schools, sent messages to parents Sunday night to assure them that they’re monitoring the situation and taking it seriously. Sandusky leaders said they’re conducting business as usual Monday as the investigation continues.
Lake Local Schools officials said they were among those who received the bomb threat. Police evacuated their buildings as a precaution Sunday and conducted a “comprehensive search” of the school buildings. Lake Local Schools Superintendent Jim Witt told parents there will be an additional police presence on campus Monday.
Findlay City Schools also received emailed threats, police said. Thorough searches of the school buildings were conducted as a precaution. Findlay police also plan to increase security measures in the coming days. School will operate as usual on Monday, officers said.
Findlay police also said there has been an increase in “successful phishing emails and ransomware attacks across the state of Ohio within the last week,” prompting officials to closely monitor their software systems.
Anthony Wayne parents received an email that said multiple schools in the districts received the emails.
Fremont police said they also plan to increase their presence at school buildings throughout the day Monday.
Schools throughout Texas also received the mass email threat on Friday.
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