TikTok challenge sees three teenagers arrested after filming themselves telling teachers they brought a gun and a bomb to school
- A dangerous new challenge on TikTok has surfaced and three students are facing charges related to terrorist threats at a Kentucky high school.
- The challenge encourages students to film themselves telling a teacher that they have a bomb or a gun in their backpack.
- The Oldham County School District has seen at least four incidents since the start of the new school year on August 9.
Three Kentucky high school students have been arrested after taking a video of themselves telling their teachers they had a bomb or a gun as part of a dangerous new prank on TikTok.
There have been four different bomb threats at two different schools, Oldham County Secondary School and South Oldham Secondary School since the start of the new school year on August 9.
Police said three of the students, whose names have not been released because they are minors, now face charges of making terrorist threats, even though the threats were deemed to be “hollow” threats intended to accumulate views on social networks.
Oldham County School’s director of student services Eric Davis told WDRB News that ‘it will happen – it’s not an ‘if’ or a ‘maybe’ – but it will happen if you utter these kinds of threats, even if it’s a joke.’
He added: “It has been a huge disruption…a huge disruption. It was a rough start, I think, mostly because of that social media rage.
Oldham County Schools said all four pupils had been suspended. They were also ordered to undergo a mental health screening before returning to class.
Oldham County School’s director of student services Eric Davis told WDRB News ‘that’s what will happen – it’s not an ‘if’ or a ‘maybe’ – but it will happen if you utter these kinds of threats, even if it’s a joke. .’
Police said three of the students, whose names have not been released because they are minors, now face charges of threatening terrorism.
Students started the new school year on August 9
The challenge encourages students to film themselves telling a teacher that they have a bomb or a gun in their backpack.
Although the threats are seemingly “empty,” school officials are concerned and are cracking down on disturbing behavior.
Since these scary incidents, all TikTok videos have been removed at the request of the district.
When a threat is reported, school resource officers are required to check the building, search lockers and backpacks, and interview students.
Officials are understandably irritable and reluctant to brush off any threats, in case they find themselves the scene of an upcoming school shooting.
The district also released a letter to parents and their students last week.
“As previously noted in a letter to families regarding terrorist threats, students who engage in this type of behavior face serious consequences,” the message read.
“In addition to discipline at the school level, students are being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for threatening a public school. »
District officials have asked parents to tell their children about the new TikTok trend and the consequences they may face if threatened.
They also urged that their children’s social media accounts be monitored more closely and to notify authorities of anyone threatening violence.
“Whether written or oral, all threats are taken seriously and students should be aware of the repercussions of such actions, both short and long term,” the statement said.
“Even if they are not credible threats, they can cause a great deal of stress or anxiety for our students, families and staff.”
Davis said no one was hurt and said the district “is going to take every threat seriously because our students deserve to go to a safe school.”
