Active shooter threats at Maine schools believed to be false

(Trends Wide) — Multiple active attacker threats have been made at at least seven schools across the state of Maine and are believed at this time to be false, according to the state Department of Public Safety.

“The Maine Department of Public Safety collaborated in the investigations with local law enforcement,” the department said in a statement. Officials said the Maine Information Analysis Center (MIAC) is heavily involved in coordination.

Shannon Moss, Public Information Officer for the Maine Department of Public Safety, told Trends Wide that at least 7 schools are affected.

One of the schools, the Sanford School Department, said they received a phone call of an active attacker situation at their high school and regional technical center at approximately 8:30 am; however, “the information is considered not to be credible.”

“As a safety precaution, students are being evacuated to buses in order to clear the building and are being taken to Memorial Gym,” the statement posted on social media read.

Elsewhere, Portland Maine police tweeted that they were on the scene at the Portland Institute after a 911 call reporting an active shooter; however, building staff reported that “there is no shooting.”

The Portland Institute tweeted that the shooting threat was “believed to be false.”

The school was in lockdown while police cleared the building, police said.

FBI Works With Police Regarding Active Assailant Threats

The FBI said it is working with state and local law enforcement regarding the numerous active shooter threats at schools across the state of Maine, and at this time there is “no information indicating a specific and credible threat.”

“The FBI is aware of the numerous active attacker threats that have been made at schools throughout Maine. Although we do not have information indicating a specific, credible threat, we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners on enforcement. to collect, share, and act on threat information that comes to us. We urge the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspicious individuals or activities to law enforcement,” the FBI said.