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Multiple schools in South Jersey closed on Monday after a social media threat about potential shootings at five schools was posted on TikTok & Instagram.

What’s the deal: According to local authorities, the initial threat was made on TikTok, warning of potential shootings at five South Jersey schools: Woodbury Junior and Senior High, Bowe Middle School, Holy Angels Catholic School, Haddon Heights Junior and Senior High, and Oak Valley School. Screenshots of the threat spread on community Facebook pages, sparking widespread concern. A screenshot from the original TikTok is attached.

Arrests made: Three juveniles were arrested in connection with the social media threats against the South Jersey schools. The individuals include a juvenile from Woodbury, another from Glassboro, and a 15-year-old from Mullica Hill.  

School district reacts: Superintendent Andrew T. Bell of the Woodbury City district said that despite the arrests, the school district would exercise “extreme caution to ensure the safety of our students, staff and families.” School is expected to resume tomorrow with a heightened police presence.

What Schools & Police are saying: In a statement, the Glassboro Police Department said, “Our agency received information regarding a post that was posted on Instagram regarding a threat to the Bowe Middle School. Upon receiving this information an investigation was immediately launched, the school district notified and numerous agencies contacted to assist in identifying the original poster of this threat as well as trying to determine whether this threat was credible.  The children that attend school in our district may not biologically be ours, but we look after them as if they are our own. The ability to have children attend school in an environment where they can learn and just be “kids” is of the utmost importance to us and we will never stop taking whatever measures necessary to ensure they are protected from the evil that tries to instill fear and cause chaos.”