EDISON — Last week saw three bomb threats at Edison High School, with one on the same day as the bomb attack at the Boston Marathon.
Police Chief Thomas Bryan said resources have been deployed to “vigorously investigate these threats.”
“The investigation is progressing, and I am confident that the person responsible for causing this disruption will be apprehended,” he said.
Bryan noted that it was by coincidence that the first threat at the high school was prior to the events that transpired at the Boston Marathon, but on the same day. On April 15, three people were killed and many more were seriously wounded after two bombs exploded near the finish line of the marathon.
The first note at the high school indicated that a bomb would explode in the building around 8:30 a.m. April 14, Edison Police Lt. Sal Filannino said.
Officers evacuated the students and searched the building’s interior, but police did not find any bombs in the school, Filannino said. Students returned to class after about 30 minutes.
The next day, another note warned that a bomb would be detonated at 7:30 a.m. April 16, Filannino said. Students were not evacuated from the premises because classes had yet to begin, but arriving students were moved to a safe place, away from the building, he said. A search once again revealed no bombs in the building.
A third note was found on April 17 in the parking lot around 10:07 a.m., Filannino said. Police believe it was placed on a telephone pole and fell off. Again, a search utilizing the department’s K-9 unit turned up negative results.
Bryan said Superintendent Richard O’Malley and school administrators have been cooperating fully with police to aid in the investigation and ensure the safety and security of all students and faculty.
O’Malley matched Bryan’s sentiments, saying the police department has been responding very well to the bomb threats and have put all their resources into ensuring that the school continues to be safe, as well as finding out who is responsible for the threats.
Individuals with information regarding the threat should call Edison Police Detective Douglas Zavoda at 732-248-7435.
Also last week, Woodbridge High School received a bomb threat through a phone call shortly before 11:30 a.m. April 16, leading to the evacuation of the building.
Authorities from several jurisdictions descended upon the school and scoured the facility for explosives, but found no such devices, Woodbridge Police Capt. Roy Hoppock said.
Officers combed the building for “a couple of hours” as students waited on one of the school’s athletic fields, Hoppock said.
Law enforcement officials from the Woodbridge Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Edison Police Department, and Middlesex and Monmouth counties assisted in the search, he said. State police officers also brought in bomb-detecting dogs.
Hoppock said later that day that he was unaware of any suspects or the motivation behind the threat.
“They could be capitalizing on what happened [at the Boston Marathon], but that’s just a guess,” he said. “We’re going to treat it accordingly and just take the proper precautions.”
Individuals with information regarding the threat should call Woodbridge Police Sgt. Vincent Fazio at 732-634-7700, ext. 7319. They may also leave an anonymous tip at 732-852-TIPS.