Dover, Portsmouth high among N.H. schools targeted with active shooter hoax calls

A State Police officer on the scene of one of multiple active shooter hoax calls at New Hampshire schools Thursday. IWMUR screenshot)

CONCORD - A little over three weeks after 10 schools in Maine were paralyzed by an active shooter hoaxes reported early in the school day, an eerily similar series of phone calls on Thursday victimized multiple New Hampshire schools, including Dover and Portsmouth high.
The calls, which were all similar in nature, have again been determined to be a hoax, according to a Dept. of Safety statement made Thursday afternoon.
Officials said active shooter hoax calls were received across the state a little before 10 a.m.
Other schools that were affected include those in Manchester, Keene, Lebanon, Franklin and Epsom.
As in Maine, the hoax terrified educators, students and their parents.
The Department of Safety is working alongside local, state and federal law enforcement partners, including the FBI, to identify the source of the calls, however, safety officials who went through the same process in Maine last month voiced little hope in identifying the source of the calls, saying that the phone number may be untraceable.
"Today we saw schools using their emergency operation plans to respond to the calls," said Robert Buxton, Director of the Department of Safety's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. "These incidents continue to show us why it is important for schools to conduct trainings and exercises on those plans, throughout the school year, in partnership with their local first responders."
The School Readiness Program, which is part of HSEM, provides assistance with the development, implementation and review of school emergency operations plans, works with schools throughout the year to conduct physical security assessments and training and exercises.
Since 2014, the School Readiness Program has conducted more than 1,000 assessments.
"Today's incident highlighted the effectiveness of communication and collaboration between my office, the Department of Safety and the New Hampshire Education Department, as well as local agencies," said Gov. Chris Sununu. "We continue to make the safety of New Hampshire's schools a top priority."
Following the Maine hoax calls on Nov. 15, the U.S. attorney for the District of Maine also warned against complacency.
On that day some 10 Maine high schools were sent into panic mode around 8:20 a.m. Sanford's active shooter hoax call was the first. Other occurred in Belfast, Portland and Gardiner and six other unidentified towns.
Any questions regarding the investigation should be directed to the FBI.