A bomb threat sent to the principal of Watkins Memorial High School has forced students home for the day.
The threat was e-mailed to the principal early Tuesday morning. In response, the school initially moved high school students out of the building to the football field as a precaution. Around noon, all students at Watkins Memorial High School, as well as Watkins Middle School, were ordered home for the day.
The school’s principal called 911 after he received an e-mail claiming to be from a student stating there were seven bombs planted around the school. The messaged read, in part: If you try and approach me, I have a detonator in my pocket and I will (expletive) this place up. I will detonate them. You have my word.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene and swept the school building for potential explosives. However, no devices were found.
Two students were detained in connection to the threat, but both have been released without being charged. Sheriff's investigators say they believe the culprits may have hacked into the student's email account and say they will get to the bottom of the bomb hoax.
Meanwhile, students were in the middle of final exams this week and were forced to leave their belongings at the school when the evacuation occurred. It's unclear how Tuesday's evacuation will impact future exam schedules.
“I shouldn't have to go to school and worry about bomb threats,” sighed student Matthew Brower. “I shouldn't have to worry about that; I should be safe.”
Maureen Kocot will have in-depth coverage of this event today on 10TV News at 5.