PORTLAND, Maine — Threats made to multiple schools across Maine on Thursday have been deemed "hoaxes," state officials said.
The Maine Information Analysis Center, a division of the Maine Department of Public Safety, confirmed in an email Thursday afternoon that the emails sent not only in Maine but nationwide were deemed to be hoaxes.
"The MIAC will continue to report any updated information or events related to this issue for situational awareness," Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss said in the email.
Moss said later that approximately 60 schools received threats Thursday.
A spokesperson with the FBI said in an email to NEWS CENTER Maine that they would not be commenting on the number of specific threats but stated they were aware of the "numerous hoax incidents wherein a bomb threat at a school is made."
The spokesperson also said the FBI takes hoax threats seriously and urged the public to "remain vigilant and report any and all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately."
In a letter distributed to the RSU 21 school community, Superintendent Terri Cooper said the school district received a "bomb threat, which was widely distributed to ... schools across the state."
All schools in the RSU 21 district, which serves the towns of Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, were placed in a "hold in place" while law enforcement officials investigated and searched all schools. That hold has since been lifted after officials gave the all-clear, according to Cooper.
"We will resume regular school activities, including after school activities," Cooper said in the letter.
In a letter to the Blue Hill school community, Superintendent Derek Perkins informed families of a "safety situation" that occurred at Blue Hill Consolidated School Thursday morning.
"This situation involved an anonymous email that we received through the school’s website," the letter read. "The email contained a threat that we responded to according to our school’s safety protocols. A similar email was received by other schools state-wide."
Perkins said law enforcement officials investigated the threat, cleared the building, and deemed it safe after conducting a walk-through.
"Out of an abundance of caution, the decision was made to send students home for the remainder of the day. School will resume on Friday, December 14th as regularly scheduled," Perkins said in the community letter.
Perkins added Blue Hill Consolidated School has its counselor and support staff readily available for students who may need assistance.
Lt. Jake Day of the Hancock County Sheriff's Office corroborated the information, stating in an email to NEWS CENTER Maine that the threat in Blue Hill was found to be "false and unsubstantiated."
Brunswick police also told NEWS CENTER Maine about an alleged threat, stating there was a "bomb scare."
This is a developing story and will be updated as NEWS CENTER Maine learns more.