A rumored shooting threat in school districts of California, Minnesota, Missouri and, Texas is spooking schools in the US. Local media reports that schools will be shut on Friday. Here’s all about the TikTok threat.
Schools around US fear shooting and bombing
Several schools around the nation have either increased police presence in and around the campus. On the other hand, some schools are canceling classes altogether on Friday. The extra protection and precautions are following the rise in anonymous TikToks warnings on shooting and bombing threats on Friday, December 17. On Thursday, school officials in Connecticut, Montana, Pennsylvania, New York, Arizona, and Connecticut announced notice on increasing security for protecting their students and teachers.
“While there are no known specific threats against New Jersey schools, the safety of our children is our highest priority and we will work closely with law enforcement to monitor the situation and remain prepared,” tweeted Governor Phil Murphy. He clarified that while threats are not existing, preparation is important. However, TikTok is denying the presence of such threats via its platform and promised to take such “rumored threats” seriously.
What is the TikTok threat all about?
Numerous threats are circulating on social media platforms. However, media reports believe they are anonymous and vague. According to a report by The Verge, there is very “little evidence that the threats are credible — or even exist”. Additionally, the police are describing a “trend referencing the possibility of shootings or bombings on December 17th”. However, the report also states “but it’s not clear how many have seen a specific threat or a threat against their schools in particular”. The Los Angeles School Police Department stated that they identified the person who posed a threat. However, it was not “credible”. However, they did not reveal if the post was a TikTok threat.
The Verge report also revealed that Maryland’s Baltimore County Public Schools tweeted that “law enforcement agencies have investigated… an anonymous threat posted on TikTok targeting all schools in the United States”. They then “determined that it originated in Arizona and is not credible”. “The purported threats, circulating in the aftermath of the deadly school shooting in Michigan, had many educators on edge,” stated an Associated Press report. The shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan’s Oxford Township on November 30 took the lives of four students. Additionally, it injured six students and a teacher. Ethan Crumberly, a 15-year-old was charged as an adult for crimes-terrorism and murder.