Bomb threat sent to Long Island middle school prompts evacuation

A bomb menace sent to a schoolhouse successful Patchogue, Long Island was deemed to beryllium non-credible, Suffolk County constabulary said Thursday.

The threat, sent to Patchogue-Medford School District officials overnight, indicated the beingness of a weaponry connected the 2nd level of South Ocean Middle School.

It has not been revealed who sent that threat.

Officials were notified of the email astir 7:50 a.m., soon earlier students began arriving for class. Teachers and schoolhouse unit were instantly evacuated from the gathering arsenic an probe into the menace was launched.

Students who arrived astatine that clip were taken by autobus to Bay Elementary School, the Long Island Advance reported.

“Safety and information are paramount to us, and we are pursuing each protocols to guarantee such,” Superintendent Donna Jones said successful an email sent to parents and guardians. “All students are harmless astatine this clip successful Bay gymnasium. Please bash not travel to prime your kid up. Once the gathering is clear, each South Ocean students volition instrumentality to the building.”

In a follow-up message, Jones told assemblage members that a thorough probe by Suffolk County Police had deemed the menace to beryllium “unsubstantiated.”

South Ocean Middle School Principal Timothy Piciullo aboriginal reiterated Jones’ statement, saying a “full information expanse of the building” recovered the menace to beryllium non-credible.

“Students, administrators, faculty, and unit person returned to the gathering and volition proceed with the schoolhouse day,” helium added.

Parents of immoderate students expressed vexation astatine territory officials for their handling of the incident. Some told News12 Long Island it took them over an hr to recognize what was happening astatine the school.

Several schools successful Connecticut were besides targeted by threats of violence connected Thursday. Two teenagers person been arrested.