Georgia school district cancels classes after receiving bomb threats; 2nd county reports similar threats
Jackson County schools canceled classes Friday after multiple campuses received anonymous, computer-generated bomb threats, according to the school district.
The district initially delayed the start of the school day as authorities began investigating the threats. Classes were later canceled because officials said it would take more time to clear the affected buildings.
In an update, the school district said that law enforcement had cleared all of its buildings that were part of the threat. After school activities will operate as normal in the afternoon.
Investigators believe the threats may have been generated by artificial intelligence and were from outside of the counties. Authorities are in communication with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Georgia Emergency Management Agency to look into the threats..
The school year began on July 30.
Similar bomb threat in Hall County, sheriff says
The Hall County Sheriff's Office says that they are investigating a similar bomb threat toward one of its high schools.
According to officials, the threat was made to Cherokee Bluff High School on Friday morning. The agency has sent explosive detection K9s to the school as well as other peronnel.
The sheriff's office said it was working with the school district to ensure its students and staff remain safe.
"The threat appears to be similar to those received overnight at schools in Jackson County," the sheriff's office said. "Up to this point, no actual explosive devices have been discovered. Any reported incident will be treated as legitimate until proven otherwise."
Hall County School Superintendent Will Schofield said that students have returned to class and that he has spoken to Gov. Brian Kemp about the situation.
