Manassas Schools Threat: Suspect Identified UPDATE

MANASSAS, VA—Authorities arrested a 10-year-old girl Monday in the investigation of a threat made Friday toward some public schools in Manassas, both inside and outside Prince William County, according to Prince William County Police.

According to PWC Police, an anonymous threat was posted on Instagram and brought to the attention of police Friday night. The Instagram account, since shut down, appears to have been created shortly before the threat was posted.

The schools identified in the threat included six schools in the Manassas area of Prince William County—West Gate Elementary, Stonewall Middle, Sudley Elementary, Ellis Elementary, Loch Lomond Elementary and Sinclair Elementary—and two in the City of Manassas, including Haydon Elementary.

All the aforementioned schools will be closed Monday because of a snow/sleet threat in the morning. Prince William County and Manassas Police said they're continuing to investigate, and that "additional precautionary security measures will be in place at those Prince William County schools identified in the post in the upcoming days while detectives with both agencies continue their investigation.

"The Police Department continues to urge parents to take an active role in monitoring what their children are doing online, including the use of smart phone devices and social media."

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