FBI Investigates Fake Bomb Threats to Multiple Oregon Schools, Synagogs, Airports
Law enforcement responding to the bomb threats made on Oregon schools on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023.
by Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, Ore., December 12, 2023 — Multiple Oregon school districts, including Central Linn, Cascade, Colton, Corbett, Condon and Arlington, faced bomb threats on Monday, Dec. 11. In addition to the schools being threatened, two Portland-area synagogues, Neveh Shalom and Beth Israel and some airports were also targeted. FBI agents did not identify which airports had been targeted. Portland International Airport confirmed that they did not receive any threats.
Upon thorough investigation, law enforcement determined that the threats made in the emails were false.
Nonetheless, the immediate response to the threats involved evacuations for safety, involving resources from multiple agencies, including the FBI.
"Hoax threats put innocent people at risk and can easily distract and deplete limited public safety resources,” said Special Agent Kieran Ramsey to KATU2 ABC. “We recognize these threats have already been extremely disruptive to classrooms and elsewhere. The FBI will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to determine if the threats are connected in any way, and we will act upon threat information as it comes to our attention. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately."
The threats, sent via suspicious emails, prompted schools to take immediate action, disrupting normal activities. Schools were eventually cleared by law enforcement, and there was no active threat to our communities at the time of this report.
The FBI is actively working to uncover the source of these threats and noted that the emails have a digital footprint for them to track. According to the Coos Bay Police Department, it appears that the email may have come from outside the United States, however, additional steps are needed to verify if that is fact.
Schools affected by the fake bomb threats are resuming normal classes today, Dec. 12, with a reinforced sense of vigilance.
