BETHEL — A bomb threat sent electronically to a computer printer at Crescent Park Elementary School on Memorial Day has been termed a hoax, according to the Maine Information and Analysis Center.
In an email to the school on Tuesday, the center said that in the past past 48 hours several entities nationwide have received a template bomb threat fax/e-mail referencing a ransom to be paid.
“As of the sending of this e-mail there have been two confirmed incidents in Maine one at a university research center and one at a public school where threats were received by fax machine,” according to the MIAC release.
“Both incidents in Maine were hoax threats. Agencies and persons receiving these threats should follow their applicable procedures and protocols in place, however it is believed these incidents are not credible threats and are part of a nationwide event where over a dozen of these threats have been received and it is possible thousands more have or could be sent out in the near future,” the release said. “MIAC is interested in collecting information on these incidents for strategic analytical purposes.”
A Crescent Park School staff member found the message and notified Principal Levi Brown, Murphy said. The message was a generic threat asking for money to be sent via money transfer service, and the threat would be followed through if the money was not sent, he said.
Murphy said Oxford County Sheriff’s Office deputies searched the school and found nothing suspicious.
Classes resumed Tuesday.
In a letter sent to parents Tuesday, Murphy said, “I wanted to follow up with you to let you know that I contacted the Maine State Police earlier today. They informed me that the same threat that was sent to a printer at CPS yesterday was also received in other schools, businesses and households in Maine and in several other states across the country over the last 48 hours.”
“I also spoke with Sheriff Wayne Gallant and although he does not deem this to be a credible threat, his deputies will continue to be a presence in the area of the school over the next couple of days,” he said.
He told parents to contact Brown at 824-2839, Gallant at 743-9554) or himself at 824-2185 if they have questions.
emarquis@sunmediagroup.net
A copy of the bomb threat sent to a computer printer at Crescent Park Elementary School in Bethel on Monday.
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