Threatening Voicemails Shut Down South Metro Schools
BY MN CRIME STAFF
All schools in Independent School District 196 were closed Tuesday after the district received threatening voicemails targeting its campuses.
Investigators later determined the threats originated from out of state and were not credible.
The Eagan Police Department said it became aware of the voicemails early Tuesday morning.
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The threats were directed at schools within ISD 196, which serves communities including Eagan, Apple Valley and Rosemount. With students and staff preparing to arrive and investigators still working to determine where the threats came from, the district closed all schools for the day out of caution.
Investigators from multiple agencies spent the day working to trace the origin of the threats. By Tuesday afternoon, the Eagan Police Department said they determined the voicemails came from out of state and did not pose a danger to the community.
The FBI has taken over as the lead investigative agency given the out-of-state origin, a police department spokesperson said.
The Eagan Police Department, Apple Valley Police Department, Rosemount Police Department, the FBI, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension all assisted in the investigation.
The district said it is now safe for students and staff to return to their schools. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Eagan Police Department at 651-675-5700.
With students and staff preparing to arrive and investigators still working to determine where the threats came from, the district closed all schools for the day out of caution.