INDIANAPOLIS — Nearly 40 schools across the state of Indiana were closed or working on e-learning days after being targeted by threats on Friday.
The threat, which spoke of a bomb, was sent through email to multiple schools and was written in Arabic. WRTV has seen the note, but is not sharing the email in an effort to not perpetuate an unsubstantiated claim.
Indiana State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local authorities worked together throughout the day to search and clear all buildings covered by the threat in each school district. Bomb squads and canines were also brought in to assist.
As of Friday afternoon, all school searches that were completed had been cleared and no threats were found. WRTV has not been able to confirm that all schools involved had been fully searched yet.
“The safety of our children will always be a top priority, the Indiana State Police will continue to offer any and all resources we have to schools to ensure safety for our students," ISP Superintendent Doug Carter said.
WRTV has been able to confirm that the following school districts received threats on Friday. Additional schools will be added to the list as they are confirmed.
- Center Grove
- Fairfield Community
- Lebanon Community
- Noblesville
- Shelbyville
- Speedway
- Tipton
- Northwest Allen County
- Shelby Eastern
- Marion Community
- Shenandoah
- Guerin Catholic
- Western Wayne
These threats come in the wake of other states seeing similar situations play out.
The following are statements sent out by some of the affected schools in central Indiana.
WRTV will continue to update this list as it grows. In the meantime, go to our school closings and delays page on our website here.
Center Grove Schools
"Center Grove Schools will be closed on Friday, April 14, 2023 with no eLearning due to a bomb threat. School building staff should not report today. All events are canceled. The district is one of 35 across the state of Indiana that received the same threat late last night. Homeland Security is investigating this situation. The decision to close was made out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with the Center Grove Police Department, Homeland Security, and other agencies."
Noblesville Community Schools
We had an anonymous bomb threat that came in over night that was sent to approximately 40 school districts throughout Indiana. Out of an abundance of caution we have called an e-learning day so we can work with local law enforcement and other appropriate agencies to further investigate this threat and ensure the safety of our schools.
Update Friday Afternoon:
I wanted to provide an update regarding the bomb threat that we received last night. Approximately 40 other school districts throughout the state also received the threat.
Our law enforcement teams have been hard at work since early this morning sweeping our buildings and ensuring the safety of our students and staff. No suspicious or explosive devices have been found in any of our schools and all buildings have been cleared for staff and students to safely return.
Federal and state law enforcement agencies are pursuing this investigation aggressively and we are hopeful that the person responsible will be quickly apprehended.
As always, please remain vigilant of your surroundings and report any suspicious activity to your principal or school resource officer. Principals provided support resources for our families earlier today and I encourage you to reference those, as needed.
All evening activities will move forward as planned and we look forward to welcoming students back to school on Monday.
I understand that this situation has created quite a disruption for everyone today, and I greatly appreciate your patience and understanding. Thank you, as always, for your support of our schools, staff, and most importantly, our children.
Lebanon Schools
Overnight, approximately 35 Indiana school corporations located across the state received a message alleging that a destructive device had been placed in an unnamed school district facility.
Due to the timing of this threat, and out of caution for the safety of our students and staff, LCSC made the decision to observe an eLearning day for Friday, April 14, 2023.
Lebanon Schools Police, administration, and our facilities department personnel have immediately begun inspecting our buildings. We are asking that no staff, students, parents, or community members enter any of our district facilities until the building has been cleared for entry.
Because our elementary schools are engaged in standardized testing at this time, schools did not allow iPads to go home with students yesterday afternoon. We understand that this may limit some elementary students’ ability to connect to CANVAS today. Our eLearning guide allows for additional time for students to complete assignments. Your child’s teacher, and principal will communicate expectations related to assignments and completion.
I understand there will be speculation and a desire for details related to the message we received. However, this matter is of course being investigated by law enforcement agencies and the Department of Homeland Security. For that reason, I am unable to provide details of the message or investigation.
I want to thank everyone for your understanding and flexibility today. We say often that student and staff safety is our highest priority, and this is true. In enforcing that priority, we sometimes have to alter our operations quickly and with little notice. We need the cooperation of our community, parents, staff, and students. I am grateful for your cooperation today.
I know you will all join me in thanking our administration, facilities department personnel, Lebanon Schools Police, and all agencies involved for their efforts today and the days to come as we address this matter.
To the degree I am able, I will share more information as it becomes available.
Speedway Schools
All Speedway Schools will be closed today due to a bomb threat. All safety measures will be activated and an update will be sent later today.
Again, ALL Speedway Schools will be closed today, Friday, April 14, 2023.
Marion Community Schools
We understand many of our students do not have their school-provided iPads at home with them. Watch for information from your school or teacher regarding assignments, or if that is not possible due to lack of access, follow up with your teacher when we return to the building next week.
Marion Community Schools was among several schools across the state that were sent an email that contained a bomb threat.
Out of an abundance of caution, and on the advice of law enforcement, MCS chose to declare an e-learning day today, April 14, to provide time for an investigation to continue into these widespread threats.
For anyone who cannot connect with their teachers (or whose teachers cannot reach out to them), students can follow up with their teachers regarding assignments when we return to the building next week.
More details will be provided as soon as possible.
Western Wayne Schools
Western Wayne Schools will not be in session today April 14, 2023, due to a mass bomb threat received in the late hours of the evening via email. We will keep all of our families informed of any updates once they arrive.
Western Community Schools
Early this morning, Howard County Sheriff’s Department received notification from the Indiana State Police that there was an anonymous bomb threat sent via email to approximately 35 school districts. Western School Corporation is included in this group. Our local K-9 unit, staffed with an explosive detection canine, has conducted a complete sweep of our facilities with the assistance of our administrative staff. Homeland Security is still investigating this situation. While we do not have any reason to believe that the threat is credible at this time, we are not willing to risk the safety of our students or staff. The decision to go to e-learning is made out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with our law enforcement and school administration. Today, Friday, April 14 will be an e-learning day. I apologize for the short notice, and appreciate your understanding as we continue to keep our students and staff safe. Please look for more e-learning information from your building principals and or classroom teachers.
