CT First Responders React to Social Media Craze Threatening School Violence

On Friday, December 17, thousands of students were too afraid to attend school because of an alleged threat against schools across the country because of an apparent social media challenge encouraging students to bring weapons to school on December 17.

Police departments across Connecticut responded by adding additional police presence to schools because of the threat. According to WTNH, The Connecticut Intelligence Center is investigating and monitoring the social media "trend." Still, they have not yet identified any specific or credible threats to any school within the state.

In breaking news, according to Hearst Connecticut Media, a 13-year-old boy was arrested in Naugatuck for sharing a post encouraging other students at City Hall School to stay home from school on Friday because of "what he might do." On Thursday, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong commented on working with TikTok.

“We’ve been in close contact with TikTok — not just over the last 24 hours, but over the last several weeks — about what’s been happening on their platform. We’re pushing them very hard. I’ve met with them in person and on Zoom. They’re on top of this situation.”

Check out the following press releases about what various schools had to say about alleged threats against schools across the state.