Montana schools respond to viral TikTok threat
Browning Public Schools announced Thursday they would close on Friday in response to a TikTok "challenge" that references a threat to school safety "for every school in the USA, even elementary" on Dec. 17, and other Montana schools have issued statements in response.
The Blackfeet Nation announced its tribal offices would also be closed on Friday, so parents can be home with their children.
The Great Falls Police Department and Cascade County Sheriff's Office reported they are investigating the viral "challenge," which allegedly encourages people to call threats in to schools or bring weapons to school on Friday. Law enforcement said they have not received information of threats directed specifically at schools in Cascade County.
Belt Public Schools reported that the TikTok video appears to be part of a national trend, which "did not originate in our school district."
"While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are closely monitoring the situation and taking it seriously," reads a release from the Belt Schools Principal Kyle Paulson.
Shelby Public Schools revealed the district has been in contact with the Toole County Sheriff's Office regarding the TikTok post.
"Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety for our students, family and staff," Elliott Crump, superintendent of Shelby Public Schools, said in a release.
Kalispell Public Schools announced that administrators on Thursday were made aware of a threat that referenced a school by the abbreviation of "GHS." In response, the Kalispell Police Department began an investigation and placed Glacier High School (GHS) on a soft lockdown, where entrances were locked but students could move freely between classes. Further investigation revealed that GHS was in reference to Granger High School, but, according to a news release, other schools nationwide with the GHS abbreviation responded in a similar manner.
"At this time, we do not believe the threat to be credible," Micah Hill, superintendent of Kalispell Public Schools, said in a statement.
If parents or children have any information regarding the TikTok video or viral threats, local law enforcement encourages you to call 9-1-1.
"Do not wait to notify law enforcement," reads a release from the Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Sheriff's Office and Great Falls Public Schools.
A previous version of this article included an error about which schools were closing. That error has been corrected.
This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Montana schools respond to viral TikTok threat
