Minerva Local Schools became one of several educational institutions across the United States to receive a threatening email targeting “American Schools.” The email, sent on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 10, was addressed to a school administrator.
The ominous message warned, “I would read this message as carefully as I can, my partners have planted multiple explosives in your American school buildings. We do not care if you believe this or not, we are tired of the Ukrainian support you guys have been giving them.” The sender identified themselves as a member of a Russian terrorist organization named “РИ///СКИЙ ИГРОК.”
The menacing communication was not isolated to Minerva, as reports confirm similar emails were sent to a school district in Texas and multiple schools in Stark and Tuscarawas Counties.
Minerva Superintendent Gary Chaddock promptly took action, reaching out to both the Stark County Sheriff’s Department and the Minerva Police Department. Minerva PD mobilized additional personnel to conduct a thorough sweep of the Minerva school buildings Sunday afternoon.
Following consultations with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Stark County Sheriff’s Department assured the District administration that the specific threat outlined in the email had been deemed not credible by federal authorities.