CLEVELAND — The Cleveland FBI confirmed to 3News that "swatting" incidents took place at schools across Northern Ohio on Wednesday.
The FBI released the following statement regarding the incidents to 3News on Wednesday:
"The Cleveland FBI is aware of the swatting incidents in Northern Ohio. The FBI takes swatting very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk. While we have no information to indicate a specific and credible threat, we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to gather, share, and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention. We urge the public to remain vigilant, and report any and all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately."
According to the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office, one of the local schools that dealt with a swatting incident on Wednesday was Edgewood High School in Ashtabula. No other information regarding the situation was released.
In Cleveland, there was a heavy police presence at James Ford Rhodes High School after reports of an active shooter, which was a false alarm.
Meanwhile, in Summit County, sheriff's deputies on Wednesday were alerted to a possible active shooter incident at Coventry High School. The call was determined to be a hoax and detectives are now investigating.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol also told 3News that they assisted on Wednesday morning with a swatting incident in Findlay.
Findlay Schools shared the following statement with 3News' affiliate station WTOL in Toledo:
"Findlay City Schools have been placed on a level two lockdown due to a reported threat in Hancock County. This is a proactive measure. Currently, there are no threats at any Findlay City School. However, out of an abundance of caution, we will remain on a level two lockdown until the threat is reduced. Until further notice, mid-day buses will not be running. As of now, end-of-the-day buses will run on schedule. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates."
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The video above previously aired on 3News on Sept. 24, 2022.
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