Swatting Hoax In Mercer County Triggers Police Response Thursday

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton police responded to a false report of an armed individual at the Princeton Public Library on Thursday afternoon in what authorities have identified as a "swatting" incident.

On arrival, officers quickly swept the area but found no gunman at the scene. Police determined the report was not credible following their investigation and deemed the incident as "swatting."

Swatting involves making hoax emergency calls designed to provoke large-scale police responses. These incidents create public fear, disrupt communities, and pull officers away from legitimate emergencies.

"The Princeton Police Department takes all reports of potential threats seriously and remains committed to the safety of our community," police said in a statement. "While today's incident was determined to be a false alarm, our officers will continue to respond with urgency to ensure the protection of residents, visitors, and community spaces."