TikTok School Gun Threat Has MD Schools, Law Enforcement On Alert

Annapolis MD

17 December, 2021

8:12 AM

Description

MARYLAND — While actual threats have not materialized, a "challenge" on the social media app TikTok warned of potential school violence Friday that prompted school districts across Maryland to take precautions. Several school districts told families about the vague threat of school violence Friday. The nationwide apparent threat triggered a broad response among law enforcement agencies and school districts, who said there have been no credible threats made at Maryland districts. Officials with Baltimore County Public Schools said the threat on TikTok — a social media platform where people can post short video — targeting schools is "not credible" and that it began in another state. "BCPS has been made aware of an anonymous threat posted on TikTok targeting all schools in the United States," the school system said Thursday. Anne Arundel County Public Schools said they have been in touch with county police and the Maryland Center for School Safety about the threat, which appears to lack credibility. Spokesman Bob Mosier said in an email. "There are no threats mentioning any of our schools, we are remaining in contact with our law enforcement partners as we do on a regular basis," spokesman Bob Mosier told Patch. See Also: TikTok Threats Are 'Noncredible,' MOCO Schools Says: ReportSchool Shooting Challenge On TikTok Prompts Police To Take ActionTikTok Threat 'Not Credible': Baltimore County Public SchoolsTikTok December 17 Challenge Has Police, Schools On High AlertSchool Shooting Challenge On TikTok Prompts Howard County Official To Speak OutThreat Prompts Police Presence At Harford County Public SchoolAACPS Monitoring Social Media Threats To Schools On Friday School leaders in Howard and Harford counties urged students and parents to alert authorities about any safety threats. Montgomery County Public Schools said, "MCPS and local police are aware of a number of viral threats locally and nationally meant for today, Dec. 17. There is no indication that these messages have any credibility." The Prince George's Police Department said it will monitor the situation, and anyone who sees anything suspicious should report it. The TikTok challenge came on the heels of the ninth anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the Michigan school shooting on Nov. 30 that killed four students and injured several others. The post was framed as a school challenge, the latest in a string of monthly TikTok dares. In September, another challenge called "Devious Licks" encouraged raucous acts of vandalism at schools. To participate, students shattered mirrors, stole soap dispensers, fire alarms and football field turf, and intentionally clogged toilets, all while filming them to post on TikTok. Patch editor Megan VerHelst contributed to this report.