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Philadelphia police clear threats at Masterman, Ben Franklin and School of the Future
Three Philadelphia schools were evacuated Friday morning after threats investigators believe came from one caller. Police deemed the threats unfounded, and normal operations resumed at all three schools.
Three Philadelphia schools briefly went into lockdown and evacuated students Friday morning after receiving threats, police and school officials said. Investigators believe the threats were made by the same caller, and police determined they were unfounded.
The schools were Masterman School, on the 1600 block of Spring Garden Street; the School of the Future, on the 4000 block of Parkside Avenue; and Benjamin Franklin High School, on the 500 block of North Broad Street.
Masterman received a threat at about 8:30 a.m. and was cleared by 9:31 a.m., officials said. The School of the Future received a threat around 9:32 a.m. and was cleared immediately; regular activities had resumed by 10:28 a.m. The threat to Benjamin Franklin came in at 9:28 a.m., and normal operations resumed by 9:56 a.m.
The School District of Philadelphia said the calls were not bomb threats. Officials did not provide details about their nature. Police said an investigation into the circumstances is ongoing.
The incident was the second evacuation and lockdown at Masterman this month. On Oct. 6, the school and four others were evacuated after bomb threats.