FORT DODGE, Iowa — Fort Dodge police say a recent bomb threat at Fort Dodge Middle School was likely a case of swatting.
Swatting generally refers to an incident in which someone falsely reports a crime or emergency to cause chaos and waste law enforcement's time and resources.
Police said in a press release Thursday that the threat was made via social media and originated outside of the U.S.
The update comes just a day after hundreds of students and teachers evacuated from Fort Dodge Middle School on Wednesday afternoon following the alleged threats.
The district said the school was dismissed early and emptied after officials were notified of a bomb threat around 2:50 p.m.
The school, located at 800 N 32nd St in Fort Dodge, teaches around 750 students in sixth, seventh and eight grade.
Police searched the building and found the threat not credible.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety notes the state has seen a "significant uptick" in swatting calls in recent years. In a Nov. 27, 2023 memo, Iowa DPS notes there were 39 swatting incidents during the 2022-2023 school year, a stark contrast to the four calls reported a year before.
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