Bomb Threats Against Alexandria Schools Lead To 2 Arrests

ALEXANDRIA, VA—After bomb threats made over social media have given Alexandria families a scare, police have identified and arrested the suspects believed to be responsible.

Police determined the threats were not credible but treated them as such. That's why authorities have decided to prosecute two teens that allegedly posted the threats. A 13-year-old boy was charged with threats to bomb Francis C. Hammond Middle School, and a 13-year-old girl was charged with threats to bomb George Washington Middle School. The minors' names will not be released.

Alexandria City Public Schools said in a statement after the arrests, "We know that it has been a difficult time for many of our families. Throughout the incident, the safety and security of students were our absolute top priorities. We worked very closely with Alexandria law enforcement throughout the incident at Hammond and concerning the threats made to GW."

The first message threatening a bombing or shooting posted Wednesday evening led to a lockdown and evacuation at Francis C. Hammond Middle School Thursday morning. Police and Fairfax County K9 units searched the building and determined it was safe for students to return. Students were bussed to T.C. Williams High School, missing classes for hours and resulting in some worried parents to pick kids up early.

Then a copycat threat about George Washington Middle School popped up, leading officials to tighten security for school on Friday. The school district notified parents of the decision to hold classes as scheduled, saying, "ACPS takes any threat to the safety of our students very seriously. The safety of our students is always our first priority. We will communicate with parents as soon as possible during an emergency, but we will always ensure the safety of students and staff before beginning any communication."

Parents and students should report dangerous or disturbing posts to the non-emergency line at 703-746-4444 or dial 911 if there is believed to be an immediate threat. ACPS also urges parents to reach out to counselors for additional support and encourage them to report suspicious behavior and use social media responsibly.

Anyone with information about the two incidents should call Sergeant Dan Gordon at 703-746-6685.

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