Threat Prompts Police Presence At Harford County Public Schools

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — More police may be at Harford County Public Schools on Friday after officials learned of a threat on TikTok directed at schools nationwide, officials said.

School administrators in several buildings were informed about the "anonymous, general threat being made against all schools in the United States for this Friday, December 17," Harford County Public Schools said in a statement Wednesday.

Law enforcement, school resource officers and school administrators investigated and "have not found any valid or supporting documentation that the threat is credible to Harford County Public Schools," officials said. "You may still see an increase in police presence on school campuses this Friday as our law enforcement partners support HCPS and are always striving to ensure students and staff know their safety is our utmost priority."

Children should share any threats they come across with an adult and the school resource officer, officials said.

"Please take this opportunity to talk with your student about the seriousness and resulting consequences of making any kind of threat, and about the appropriate use of social media, and encourage your students to speak with you, an adult at school, and the SRO if they see or hear something, so that immediate action can be taken," school officials said. "Thank you and we look forward to seeing students for instruction on Friday as scheduled."

Harford County Public Schools plans to notify families and community members about this issue through its mass communication systems at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 15.