Southeast MN School Faces Another Scare: FBI Intercepts Kasson-Mantorville Threat
“We are deeply grateful to our local law enforcement and SRO for their swift and reassuring response. Their actions ensured the safety of our school community and reinforced the importance of the partnerships we have in place,” Giese wrote in the email.
Kasson, MN (KROC-AM News)- For the second time this week, the FBI intercepted a social media threat targeting a school in southeastern Minnesota.
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The latest threat concerned the Kasson-Mantorville Middle School in Kasson, according to an email sent to district families by Kasson-Mantorville Superintendent Beth Giese.
FBI Intercepts Threat Made Towards Kasson Mantorville School by 4th Grader on TikTok
School officials say a thorough investigation by law enforcement confirmed there was no ongoing threat to students and staff. The email says federal agents intercepted the threat made by a fourth grade student on a TikTok page.
The FBI then notified the Kasson Police Department. No lockdown was ever initiated, the email indicates.
“We are deeply grateful to our local law enforcement and SRO for their swift and reassuring response. Their actions ensured the safety of our school community and reinforced the importance of the partnerships we have in place,” Giese wrote in the email.
All homecoming-related activities are scheduled to go on as planned at Kasson-Mantorville schools, the email says.
Kasson Mantorville Middle School Becomes Latest Southeast MN School to be Threatened
Friday morning’s incident is the latest in a series of threatening situations involving southeastern Minnesota schools.
On Thursday, Riverland College in Austin went into a lockdown after officials learned of a phone call alleging someone would try to do harm at the campus.
The call was traced to an Austin resident, who was located in the Twin Cities, where arrangements were made to have the person transported to a medical facility, according to the Austin Police Department.
Read More: Concerning Phone Call Linked to Lockdown at Riverland College
Schools in Albert Lea went into a lockdown on Tuesday after the FBI alerted authorities of an online conversation during which one individual "expressed an interest" in committing a school shooting and live streaming it.
The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office said investigators were able to identify a local juvenile as one of the participants in the conversation and intercepted the individual on a school bus before the start of the school day.
Read More: Juvenile Linked to Albert Lea School Threat Intercepted on Bus
Last week schools in Byron, Kasson, Dodge Center and Hayfield went into lockdown after a concerning video surfaced on Facebook that was filmed outside of the Byron High School.
The man who published the video was arrested then released pending further investigation.
Read More: Olmsted County Sheriff's Office ID's Person of Interest in MN School Lockdowns
Earlier this month, the Rochester Catholic School system was targeted by what Rochester police suspect was a swatting call. It led to the evacuation of an elementary school and early dismissal for the four other schools in the system
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