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ISIS-related threat on social media shuts down rural military school ISIS-related threat on social media shuts down rural military school
(about 3 hours later)
A private military school in Virginia has canceled events throughout the weekend and has boosted its security after receiving ISIS-related threats through social media, law enforcement and school officials said. A private military school in Virginia has canceled events throughout the weekend and has boosted its security after receiving Islamic State-related threats through social media, law enforcement and school officials said.
Police and FBI officials are investigating a threat against Hargrave Military Academy, which decided Thursday to alert parents, students and staff about the enhanced safety precautions on the campus located about two hours southwest of Richmond, Va. Police and FBI officials are investigating threats against Hargrave Military Academy, which decided Thursday to alert parents, students and staffers about the enhanced safety precautions on the campus located about two hours southwest of Richmond.
The threats came in a Facebook message to the school on Tuesday and mentioned ISIS, the terrorist group based in Syria known as the Islamic State. The threats specifically mentioned activities on the campus this weekend, including an open house event hosted by the Hargrave admissions staff, law enforcement officials said. Police immediately engaged the sender of the message in a discussion while working to determine the credibility of the claims.The threats came in a Facebook message to the school on Tuesday and mentioned ISIS, the terrorist group based in Syria known as the Islamic State. The threats specifically mentioned activities on the campus this weekend, including an open house event hosted by the Hargrave admissions staff, law enforcement officials said. Police immediately engaged the sender of the message in a discussion while working to determine the credibility of the claims.
After deliberations with the Pittsylvania County sheriff’s office, state officials and the FBI, the school opted to allow students to spend the weekend away from campus and postponed the planned events and athletics competitions.After deliberations with the Pittsylvania County sheriff’s office, state officials and the FBI, the school opted to allow students to spend the weekend away from campus and postponed the planned events and athletics competitions.
Pittyslvania Sheriff Michael Taylor said that they are treating the threats as legitimate. Pittsylvania Sheriff Michael Taylor said officials are treating the threats as legitimate.
“We are cautiously optimistic that this is a hoax, however, we are not assuming it as such,” Taylor said. “Our responsibility in law enforcement is we’re going to take it seriously. We are investigating the origin and trying to determine who the person or persons are that sent this message, and when we find them we are going to arrest them.” “We are cautiously optimistic that this is a hoax; however, we are not assuming it as such,” Taylor said. “Our responsibility in law enforcement is, we’re going to take it seriously. We are investigating the origin and trying to determine who the person or persons are that sent this message, and when we find them, we are going to arrest them.”
The threats to Hargrave, a private military academy founded in 1909, come as social media threats against schools have dramatically risen throughout the country. The threats to Hargrave, a private military academy founded in 1909, come as social-media threats against schools have dramatically risen throughout the country.
[Facing the same threat, schools in Los Angeles, New York take different tacks][Facing the same threat, schools in Los Angeles, New York take different tacks]
School officials in Los Angeles and New York received nearly identical, simultaneous security threats in December, causing concern on both coasts. Ultimately, the Los Angeles school system, the second largest in the country, shut down for the day out of an abundance of caution, while New York’s public schools decided to stay open after police commissioner William J. Bratton said that investigators concluded the threats were baseless. School officials in Los Angeles and New York received nearly identical, simultaneous security threats in December, causing concern on both coasts. Ultimately, the Los Angeles school system, the second-largest in the country, shut down for the day out of an abundance of caution, while New York’s public schools decided to stay open after police Commissioner William J. Bratton said that investigators concluded the threats were baseless.
[Police investigate threats against schools in six states][Police investigate threats against schools in six states]
In January, bomb threats against schools in six states led to widespread evacuations and police investigations.In January, bomb threats against schools in six states led to widespread evacuations and police investigations.
Hargrave, in the sleepy village of Chatham, Va., is an all-boys preparatory school for grades 7 through 12, and it is known for producing standout athletes and future military leaders. The school is home to international students from as far away as Rwanda and the sons of prominent U.S. families. Hargrave, in the sleepy village of Chatham, Va., is an all-boys preparatory school for grades seven through 12, and it is known for producing standout athletes and future military leaders. The school is home to international students from as far away as Rwanda and the sons of prominent U.S. families.
Taylor, who is serving his third term as sheriff, said that the threats were an unusual occurrence in an otherwise placid, historic town. Taylor, who is serving his third term as sheriff, said the threats were an unusual occurrence in an otherwise placid, historic town.
“I know that when this news breaks with our parents and the community that there’s going to be a heightened sense of alarm,” Taylor said, noting that the small Virginia town had now joined many other communities in facing security threats. “We just want to reassure our folks here that we are ahead of this and we’re going to do whatever is necessary to keep them safe.” “I know that when this news breaks with our parents and the community that there’s going to be a heightened sense of alarm,” Taylor said, noting that the small Virginia town had now joined many other communities in facing security threats. “We just want to reassure our folks here that we are ahead of this, and we’re going to do whatever is necessary to keep them safe.”
Retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Don Broome, Hargrave’s president, said that he told students, staff and parents about the ISIS threat on Thursday afternoon. He also said that there would be more police on campus for the near future. Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Don Broome, Hargrave’s president, said that he told students, staff and parents about the ISIS threats on Thursday afternoon. He also said that there would be more police on campus for the near future.
“It’s my desire that law enforcement will bring this to a swift conclusion,” Broome said, noting that police do not believe any students were involved with the social media threat. “It’s my desire that law enforcement will bring this to a swift conclusion,” Broome said, noting that police do not believe any students were involved with the social-media threats.
Broome said that Hargrave has Muslim students in its ranks and that he used the threats as an educational opportunity to address his students about ISIS and its significant differences from the general Muslim belief system and its devout adherents. Broome said that Hargrave has Muslim students in its ranks and that he used the threats as an educational opportunity to address his students about ISIS and its significant differences from the general Muslim belief system and its adherents.
“I spent a large part of my time before I retired in the Middle East,” Broome said. “Not all of our Muslim world is affiliated with ISIS.”“I spent a large part of my time before I retired in the Middle East,” Broome said. “Not all of our Muslim world is affiliated with ISIS.”
Broome said the school offers modern Arabic classes and encourages students to learn about cultures around the globe.Broome said the school offers modern Arabic classes and encourages students to learn about cultures around the globe.
“I want our young men to understand there’s a big world out there,” Broome said. “Part of what we teach them is about character and they have to learn to understand people who are unlike themselves. ... If there’s a little less hate in the world by the time they graduate, I’m all for it.” “I want our young men to understand there’s a big world out there,” Broome said. “Part of what we teach them is about character and they have to learn to understand people who are unlike themselves. . . . If there’s a little less hate in the world by the time they graduate, I’m all for it.”
Broome said that classes are scheduled to resume as usual on Monday.Broome said that classes are scheduled to resume as usual on Monday.
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