Whittier Tech Students Sent Home Early After Threat, Bomb Squad Called In

HAVERHILL (CBS) – The State Police bomb squad was called into Whittier Tech in Haverhill Monday to help investigate a threat. Students were dismissed at noon after a threatening message was found inside one of the boy's bathrooms.

There's no word on what was specifically said in the message, but authorities were taking it seriously.

"Students were dismissed early today out of an abundance of caution, though school leaders have no reason to believe there is any imminent danger to students or staff," police said in a statement, adding that it will be easier to search the school with the students dismissed.

After the dismissal, Whittier Superintendent Maureen Lynch released a statement expressing her frustration.

"I am profoundly disappointed by the fact that a school day has been needlessly disrupted for the second time in less than a week by a threat to our community's safety. This behavior is unacceptable and is counter to our values. We will address the seriousness of this issue directly with our students in order to make it clear that there is no place for threats like this at Whittier," she said, in part.

Haverhill Police will have an increased presence at the school Tuesday.

March 22, which was initially scheduled as a half-day, will now be a full day of school, Lynch added.

No other information is available at this point in the investigation.