Bomb Threat At Private Islamic School Has Worcester Police Responding

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester police say they will be conducting more checks of religious institutions after a bomb threat evacuated students and staff at a private school inside the Worcester Islamic Center.

Officers responded to the Alhuda Academy at 248 East Mountain Street around 1:48 p.m. Thursday after receiving reports of a bomb threat. Once officers got there, they began to re-direct traffic as the school and nearby homes were evacuated.

A perimeter around the building was established, and the public was kept away from the area while Massachusetts State Police, K9 units, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams worked to investigate the scene.

About an hour and a half later, crews say they found nothing suspicious and re-opened the building around 3:30 p.m.

The Alhuda Academy is a pre-Kindergarten through 8th-grade private day school accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

An investigation revealed that the threatening calls were from one phone number. The source of the calls is currently being investigated and has been referred to the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Officers say with the religious holidays of Passover, Easter, and Ramadan approaching, police will be on alert around religious institutions and ask all community members to report any suspicious behavior.