This story has been updated with statements from Cincinnati Public Schools and the FBI.
A number of Cincinnati-area high schools, including Walnut Hills, Indian Hill and Mason, were placed under lockdown this morning after receiving bomb threats similar to others reported across Ohio.
Walnut Hills High Principal John Chambers notified families and staff of a bomb threat around 11 a.m. March 4, according to an email obtained by The Enquirer.
Cincinnati police and Cincinnati Public Schools security are investigating the threat and working to identify a suspect, Chambers said. The building has not been evacuated, but a lock-in has been initiated as precaution.
“The investigation is ongoing and may result in criminal charges for the individual responsible. If it is determined that a CPS student issued the threat, they will be disciplined in accordance with the CPS Student Code of Conduct,” Chambers said.
In an afternoon email to families, Cincinnati Public Schools confirmed its investigation into the threats and encouraged parents to speak with their children about the “serious consequences of making real or false threats toward a school, fellow student or staff member.”
“The safety of our students and staff is our top priority,” the email reads. “Threats of this nature are taken very seriously and may result in criminal charges.”
Later in the afternoon, a news release from the district said police and the school’s security found no suspicious items in the high school or around its exterior. The release said that students and staff are safe.
The lockdown was lifted, and the school day at Walnut Hills High School continued as normal, a district spokesperson said.
Other Cincinnati-area schools received threats
Indian Hill High School has also been evacuated as police check the building with K9s, the village’s police department confirmed to The Enquirer. The reported bomb threat came in around the same time.
The school did not continue instruction after the police declared the buildings were safe to enter, according to a district news release. At 1 p.m., students were permitted to grab their belongings and were dismissed.
Mason High School has resumed normal operations after a threatening phone call was received earlier in the morning, Mason police said in a safety update.
“During the investigation, we also learned that schools in several nearby communities reported receiving similar threatening messages today, which law enforcement agencies are actively investigating,” Mason police said.
Bomb threats reported across Ohio; FBI investigating
In addition to the Cincinnati area, multiple Columbus-area schools are also reporting bomb threats, according to The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Some threats have also been reported in Cleveland and Toledo. While investigating threats at local schools, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office said that approximately 35 similar threats were reported to schools throughout all of Ohio.
The FBI released a statement, saying that it’s aware of these threats, but it currently has no information that indicates the threats are credible. The FBI added, however, that it’s working with local, state and federal law enforcement partners to address threat information as soon as it arises.
“We urge the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately,” the statement says.
Schools across the country being targeted with hoax bomb or shooter threats has happened before.
In 2023, some local school districts said many of the threats came from a group claiming to be a Russian terrorist organization.
Then, in 2024, Princeton High School was the target of what officials called a nationwide spree of hoaxes.
Enquirer reporter Gillian Stawiszynski contributed to this report
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Statewide bomb threats hit Cincinnati-area schools, FBI investigating
Reporting by David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
