Jersey City Teen In Custody After Online Threats To School

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A Jersey City teen was taken into custody on Monday and police had extra patrols near Dickinson High School after threats were made online targeting Egyptian students.

As of 4 p.m. on Monday, a 16-year-old girl was taken into custody and is being charged with false public alarm and two counts of terroristic threats, according to Jersey City Spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione.

Board President Mussab Ali said a student at the high school received an anonymous message on Instagram and the district was working with police to provide increased security in and around the school. Ali told The Jersey Journal the message was threatening "to kill all of you and your Egyptian friends."

The threat is under investigation and the school remained open on Monday. Ali told the outlet that since late last week, there had been some altercations between Egyptian and Black students.

"At this time we are working with law enforcement to investigate the matter but with their guidance on this issue, we are keeping the school open," Ali said.

Jersey City Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Norma Fernandez told Patch it was an active police investigation and the district could not comment.