Pawtucket school evacuation due to hoax bomb threat

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — The Pawtuket Police Department said that the evacuation of Joseph Jenks Middle School was due to a non-credible bomb threat.

The Pawtucket Mayor’s Office said that the school was evacuated Wednesday afternoon after a “concerning phone call” made to the school.

A spokesperson said that the Pawtucket Police Department, in conjunction with the school, made the decision to “enact emergency protocols” and evacuate the building out of an “abundance of caution.”

The department said officers and K-9’s conducted a sweep of the school, and an investigation uncovered that the call received was linked to other prior swatting incidents in other states throughout the country.

No one was transported for medical emergencies, but that several students were evaluated for anxiety.

The Mayor’s Office added that students and staff are safe.