High school says no credibility to bomb threats

San Benito High School officials said rumors of a bomb threat on campus during the last day of semester finals on Friday were just that — a rumor. 

In a message emailed to students and parents, the school said it has “been investigating this with the assistance of all school administration and the Hollister Police Dept. We have no reason to believe that there is any truth to this rumor.”

The rumor follows a bomb threat earlier this week that forced the entire Los Angeles Unified School District to cancel classes for a day. A similar threat of school violence received by San Francisco schools was deemed to be false and school was not canceled.

SBHS officials said three police officers were on campus Friday and that the school is “taking extra protocols to ensure the safety of all student and staff.”

On his Facebook page, Superintendent John Perales said, “This is JUST A RUMOR and we will continue classes as usual.”

Hollister Police said they received report of a comment made Thursday on campus that was “allegedly a threat against the school and possibly other students.” In a press release, HPD said “officers and school staff have spoken to the parties involved as witnesses and the person who allegedly made the comments. The investigation has not revealed any credible threats against students or staff.”

Police said rumors “have spread throughout the city and other high schools” about a bomb threat at SBHS and other schools, but there has not been a lockdown of any campus and the HPD “would like to ask parents to remain calm.”

In the statement, police said, “although the High School and the Police Department take all threats seriously, this incident does not appear to be a credible threat. The school is operating normally and the students are taking their finals. There is no need for parents to respond to the school.”