Robot-Voiced School Bomb Threats Linked to Russia

As schools around the world grapple with a rash of robocall bomb threats, Rhode Island authorities have traced local threats to Russia.

An investigation into phoned-in bomb threats that caused evacuations and other disruptions at numerous schools in Rhode Island last week have been traced to St. Petersburg, Russia, according to Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Col. Stephen O’Donnell.

O‘Donnell said it is unlikely that any suspects will be identified due to a lack of cooperation from Russian authorities and the robocalling systems being used.

The threats, which targeted schools in Warwick, Newport and Middletown, were unsettling for parents, students and school officials, especially in Newport, where schools were threatened four times over a five-day period.

Delivered in a computer-generated voice, the threats often refer to specific schools and mention bombs, active shooters or other promises of violence.

The subsequent evacuations, dismissals, building searches and police response have been costly and disruptive. Newport Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain had the difficult job of dealing with four threats last week and told the Providence Journal that it’s troubling that the intent is to cause “fear and disruption.”

“Schools should be a safe place where children should be able to feel safe,” she said.