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Gainesville High School lockdown lifted after bomb threat; police to remain on campus

A bomb threat called into 911 prompted a lockdown at Gainesville High School on Thursday. After an extensive sweep, the lockdown was lifted by 1:30 p.m., but police will stay on campus for the rest of the day.

Gainesville High School lockdown lifted after bomb threat; police to remain on campus

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A bomb threat prompted a lockdown at Gainesville High School on Thursday, but the campus was cleared and operations returned to normal by early afternoon, according to school officials.

The threat was called into 911, reporting that a bomb was on campus, police said. Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies responded and searched the school for anything suspicious.

By about 1:30 p.m., the lockdown was lifted after what the district described as an extensive sweep. In a statement, the district said it would keep police on campus for the remainder of the day.

The incident disrupted the school day but ended without any reported injuries or findings of an explosive device. The district did not provide further details about the nature of the call or whether any suspects had been identified.

Bomb threats against schools are taken seriously by law enforcement, even when they turn out to be hoaxes, because of the potential danger and the disruption they cause. Thursday’s response involved a coordinated effort to ensure the safety of students and staff before allowing normal activities to resume.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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