ATLANTA — An investigation into an anonymous threat directed at Atlanta High School earlier this week indicates the call was likely a “swatting” hoax originating from outside the United States, according to district officials.
The incident began on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 20, when the high school received an anonymous phone threat. In a message sent to parents that afternoon, Atlanta ISD confirmed that law enforcement and campus administration immediately began an investigation.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we initiated a shelter-in-place,” the district stated in the initial Tuesday notification. During the incident, students remained in classrooms with staff while exterior doors were secured. The threat was not verified at the time, and the school dismissed at the normal time with an increased police presence as a precaution.
On Thursday, Jan. 22, the school released a safety update regarding the ongoing investigation. According to the update, the investigation now involves both the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the FBI.
While investigators successfully traced the phone call to a number in Maryland, officials stated that “early indicators suggest it may have been routed from outside the United States.”
District officials noted that this specific pattern is consistent with “hoax and swatting-type calls that have affected schools across the country.” Swatting involves making false threats to emergency services to draw a large law enforcement response to a specific location.
The district has assured parents and students that there is no credible danger.
“There is no information that indicates an immediate safety issue on our campus,” the Jan. 22 update read.
District officials indicated they will continue to share updates as they become available from federal and state investigators.