Since the brutal Valentine’s Day killing which saw 14 students and three teachers shot dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, at least 20 schools across the USA reported a direct threat or weapon on their campus.
Orono Public Schools in Minnesota are currently on lockdown after a “direct threat of gun violence” was made today on social media, local police confirmed.
One threat was dismissed for being vague but police have taken a second threat seriously and have requested assistance from the FBI and county officials.
A statement from Orono Police Statement said: “Today, 02-21-18, two threats were received through social media.
“The first threat was vague, the second was a direct threat of gun violence at the Orono Schools.
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“The Orono Police Department takes these threats very seriously and is working in conjunction with school staff and a decision was made to lock down the Orono Schools.
“Police officials have requested mutual aid from Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.”
The statement added that the situation was an “active investigation” and updates would continue to be provided.
No other schools across the United States are known to be currently on lockdown but the crisis in Orono follows days of similar incidents around the country.
Earlier, lockdowns were lifted at two Tamba Bay schools in Florida. In one incident, a threatening note was found written on a bathroom wall at Southeast High School in Bradenton.
Investigations were also carried out at River Ridge Middle School after rumours circulated about a student carrying a gun on campus.
Both threats were investigated and the schools have now returned to normal activity.
Other schools also on alert this morning included two establishments in Manatee County, although these have since been lifted.
Earlier, CNN said there have been 56 incidents of a threat involving a weapon on campus since the February 14 Parkland shooting.
According to US media these included seven incidents in Houston, one of which involved a “school lockdown over a gun found in a 17-year-olds student’s jacket” the morning after the Parkland attack.
Other sickening copycat incidents have led to several other teenage students being arrested, and in some cases charged, for either making threats verbally or on social media.
Survivors of last week’s deadly Florida high school shooting today descended upon the state’s capital Tallahassee to demand lawmakers take action to restrict sales of assault rifles.
Allyson Zadravec, 15, of Northwood High School in Silver Spring, Maryland said: ”I came out here because I don’t feel safe in my school.
”I want to make sure that everyone who can do something about it hears that I don’t feel safe in my school.” Sympathetic protests involving hundreds of students are either planned or are taking place in Florida, Phoenix, Arizona; Pittsburgh and Chicago, according to witnesses and local news media accounts.
Nikolas Cruz, 19, a former student expelled from Stoneman Douglas High for disciplinary problems, was arrested and charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.