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Racist Threat Shuts Down Notre Dame Academy In Tyngsborough

TYNGSBOROUGH (CBS) – A private school in Tyngsborough was closed Tuesday after threats were made against black students.

Police said there were a "series of racist and racially insensitive social media postings and at least one written message appearing to target minority students" at Notre Dame Academy.

"In a typed and printed message discovered in a bathroom at the Lower School (Pre K-8), nonspecific threats were made against black students, making reference to something occurring on May 17, 2016," police said in a statement.

The message also had a picture of an African-American student.

School administrators cancelled classes for the day "out of an abundance of caution."

"We do not believe there is a credible threat against the school, but we are conducting an active and ongoing investigation at this time," police chief Richard Howe said.

Police noted that other "offensive messages" have been posted to Instagram and Twitter targeting the Upper School (grades 9-12) in the last few months.

Authorities have been looking into that since February.

"The typed and printed message is the first piece of material presented to police," police said in their statement.

Police believe one student our a group of students are behind the threats.

"They're not coming out and saying, 'we're going to do this,' but they're making enough subtle threats that I would feel very comfortable," Howe said. "They don't feel safe in their own school."

Anyone with information is asked to call Tyngsborough Police at 978-649-7504.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports

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