UPDATE: Fake bomb threat at Pasco school appears to be part of string of threats made across U.S.
A fake bomb threat against Pasco’s Ellen Ochoa Middle School appears to be part of a string of “robo-call” bomb threats made across the country called “swatting,” officials said.
The threat led the Pasco school to be evacuated for more than half an hour Monday.
In recent months, hoaxers playing online games have allegedly used proxy servers and other high-tech identity-disguising tools to anonymously threaten schools online or in phone messages with electronic voices to trigger a huge police response, including SWAT teams, The Associated Press reported.
UPDATE: Bomb threat at Ochoa MS today appears to be part of string of "robo-call" bomb threats made across US. Very similar to other calls.
— PascoSchoolDistrict (@PascoSD1) May 24, 2016
The east Pasco school was cleared of staff and students just before 12:30 p.m. when school administrators learned of the threat, the district said in a release.
Police found nothing so students and staff were allowed back inside about 1 p.m.
The number used to call in the threat has been traced and authorities will be talking to the person who made the call, a release from police said.
This story was originally published May 23, 2016 at 2:14 PM with the headline "UPDATE: Fake bomb threat at Pasco school appears to be part of string of threats made across U.S.."