UTAH, March 29, 2023 (Gephardt Daily) — Multiple Utah schools have been placed on lockdown Wednesday after threats that turned out to be hoaxes.
The Moab Police Department confirmed that the hoaxes reported today are part of a nationwide trend related to a social media challenge.
“ALERT: All Students in Moab Schools are safe,” a Moab Police statement says. “The threats were a prank often referred to as ‘SWATTING.’ There is a nationwide trend of these occurrences resulting from a TikTok challenge. Nevertheless, we are clearing every inch of every school as I type this.”
Ogden High School also fell victim, its statement says.
“Ogden High School has been the victim of a hoax related to school violence” a social media post says.
“Repeat: This is a hoax. No students have been harmed. Ogden police are at the school and are clearing the building per protocol as a precaution. Multiple schools have been the victim of this hoax today.”
Salt Lake City police also responded to a call.
“This morning, SLC911 received a call about a possible active shooter at West High School,” an SLCPD tweet says.
“We have confirmed, the report is unfounded. Salt Lake City schools are on spring break. There are no injuries. The school is secured and we are investigating.”
Spanish Fork police also responded to a call, later confirming it was a false threat.
“Spanish Fork police, fire, and EMS are responding to a call at Spanish Fork High. AVOID THE AREA,” the first tweet says.
“SFHS Family, All students and faculty are safe,” says a follow-up tweet. “This was a false report of an active shooter. Police responded quickly and lock down protocol was immediately put into place. Police have swept the building and have deemed it safe.
“There are no victims.”
Roy City Police Sgt. Stuart Hackworth released a statement on Facebook about the hoax call. View it here.
And Provo police and the Utah Department of Public Safety released statements on social media. See them below:
Gephardt Daily will have more information as the story develops.
