Oct. 15 (UPI) — More than 40 Florida public school districts received bomb threats, known as swatting, that were not credible, school officials said Wednesday.
The message didn’t mention specific schools or counties but demanded a ransom in the form of cryptocurrency, called bitcoin.
The threats late Tuesday were received in central Florida counties that include Brevard, Citrus, Sumter, Highland, Marion and Seminole, Orlando media outlets reported. Elsewhere in central Florida, Osceola, Orange and Volusia county districts told WKMG-TV in Orlando they didn’t receive threats.
Also, districts in the Panhandle, Holmes, Liberty and Jackson counties, received threats, WMBB reported.
And districts in southwest Florida in Charlotte and Colliers counties were given the messages, WFTX-TV reported.
There are 67 counties in Florida.
“We wanted to inform you that a widespread email was sent to over 40 districts in the State of Florida last night, and our district received the same email, regarding bombs being placed in schools and demanding payment in bitcoin,” Katherine Crnkovich, Seminole County Public Schools communications officer, said in a statement to WKMG-TV.
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI are investigating the origination of the threats that were sent Tuesday in a group email, Janet Murnaghan, chief strategic communications officer for the school district, told Florida Today.
Students were not in danger and classes would proceed as scheduled, she said.
“We remain in close coordination with law enforcement and will provide updates to families should new information become available,” Murnaghan said.
The FBI, on its website, said it takes swatting threats seriously, and works with federal, state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement partners.
“Swatting is the malicious tactic of making hoax calls or reports to emergency services, typically feigning an immediate threat to life,” the FBI said. “Swatting is intended to draw a large response from SWAT teams or other law enforcement resources to an unsuspecting victim’s location, causing chaos and the potential for injury or violence.
“Targets of swatting often include high-profile public figures, as well as schools, hospitals, places of worship, and centers of mass transportation, but anyone can be a victim. A swatting incident may be an isolated event targeting one victim or part of a larger coordinated effort to target multiple victims.”
Citrus School Police Chief Rachel Montgomery explained in the district’s message to parents: “These messages can take many forms, including phone calls, texts or emails.”
The Sumter County School District told WESH-TV: “Out of an abundance of caution, there will be an increased law enforcement presence on our campuses to ensure the safety and security of our students and staff.”