Atlanta Public School tightens campus security Thursday after threats

ATLANTA – Atlanta public school students will return to class Thursday morning under enhanced security precautions.

On Wednesday evening, school officials said APS police, like their counterparts in many other school districts, have been investigating a series of threats since the shooting at Apalachee High School that left two students and two teachers dead and nine others injured.

“While none of these have been deemed credible, we take each threat seriously and our APS Police Department investigates them fully,” it said in a statement.

On Wednesday evening, FOX 5 received several calls from concerned parents and guardians who reported that the district sent an email to parents about the increased security measures on Thursday.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we will continue to work with APD and Fulton County to increase law enforcement presence as much as possible,” APS confirmed to FOX 5.

The school administration is asking everyone to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious, adding that all possible measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the school during this troubled time.

Threats against schools after shooting in Georgia

Since the violence in Barrow County, threats against schools in the Atlanta area have increased.

Authorities said they investigated hundreds of threats posted on various social media sites over the past week.

So far, more than a dozen people between the ages of 12 and 26 have been arrested in the Atlanta area and charged with making terroristic threats after authorities say they spread false information about active shooters or made threats online.

In Troup County, school principals spoke at a press conference Wednesday evening about an increase in threats.

Officials said they investigated four separate cases of threats of violence against their schools in the days following the Apalachee High School shooting.

One of these threats led to an arrest.

“These threats have resulted in classroom disruption and unnecessary distraction. I want to be very, very clear: These actions will not be tolerated by our school system or law enforcement,” said Dr. Rachel Hazel, Troup County Schools Superintendent.

In Gwinnett County, at least nine students were arrested for making threats against schools, according to the FBI. Many of them now face serious felony charges.

Authorities are urging parents and guardians to check their children's school bags, monitor their social media habits and talk to their children about the fact that threats, even in jest, are unacceptable.