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Local Education Authorities React to Alleged Menaces on TikTok
Recent developments saw educational institutions nationwide issuing cautions following alleged threats of violence spread through TikTok. An online challenge on the platform prompted anonymous users to post generic threats of shootings and bombings targeting various schools in different states. Responses from school districts varied; some, like those in Montana and New York, opted for heightened police presence, while others, such as schools in California and Texas, chose to shut down for the day.
“We wish to update you without causing undue concern,” communicated school authorities in Oak Park and River Forest, Illinois, to parents. “We have been made aware of a popular TikTok trend regarding ‘school shooting and bomb threats for every school in the USA even elementary’ on Friday, December 17.”
The exact source of the threats or the origin of the challenge remains unclear. Due to the generic nature of the threats, law enforcement agencies deem them not credible. Nonetheless, they are treating the matter with utmost seriousness.
School authorities amp up security in response to TikTok videos cautioning about potential school shootings and bomb threats despite assurances that the posts lack credibility https://t.co/MR80Vd3kdu
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 17, 2021
In a statement to CBS, an FBI representative emphasized that the bureau “takes all potential threats seriously. We routinely collaborate with law enforcement partners to assess the credibility of any potential threats. It is critical for the public to promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.”
TikTok, on their end, affirmed their cooperation with the investigation. “We treat even rumored threats with the utmost gravity,” the platform stated. “Hence, we are collaborating with law enforcement to probe warnings concerning possible violence at schools, despite no evidence linking such threats to TikTok.”
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