(Omaha, NE) -- A number of schools across Nebraska receive swatting calls on Thursday.
The Nebraska State Patrol says it received information regarding several false reports of school shootings reported to 911 call centers across Nebraska, including at Omaha South High School. NSP investigators say there is no credible information that any school shooting has taken place in Nebraska.
The state patrol says earlier this week the Nebraska Information Analysis Center, a division of the Nebraska State Patrol, provided a bulletin to law enforcement agencies across the state and the Nebraska Department of Education regarding a trend of “swatting” calls that had been reported in several other states this year including: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Texas, and Vermont. That bulletin advised local agencies to be prepared in the event the calls target Nebraska schools, which occurred Thursday.
Investigators say there have been distinct similarities in the calls received by schools in other states, such as the use of VOIP technology to mask the caller’s identity and location, using or mocking a foreign accent, mispronouncing school or town names, and pretending that they are hiding inside the school themselves.
The Nebraska State Patrol is assisting any local law enforcement agencies and school districts that receive these calls. Anyone with information regarding the origin of these calls is urged to call NIAC at 888-580-6422 or submit an online tip at the NIAC Suspicious Activity Report site https://sars.nebraska.gov.