Sally E. Bahner Photo
A message left on an answering machine at Branford High School just before 9 a.m. that an explosive “may be placed” in the school led this morning to the evacuation of the school.
Branford Police called in the Connecticut State Police Bomb Squad to search the school.By early afternoon Police Chief Kevin Halloran said the school “is safe to reopen.”
East Haven High School also received a bomb threat this morning via voicemail, but classes resumed there earlier in the day. Police Capt. Geoff Morgan said there will be some interaction with the detective division in East Haven.
The Branford police received information from the Superintendent’s office just before 9:00 a.m. that a message was left on a High School office phone that an explosive device may be placed within the school facility.
Detectives Investigate Call
An investigation in now underway by Branford detectives to determine the caller’s identity.
Morgan notified the public shortly after 10 a.m. School officials notified parents. While the school was cleared to reopen early this afternoon classes had previously been dismissed for the day.
Sally E. Bahner Photo
The high school students were subsequently transported by bus to Walsh Intermediate School where they were picked up by parents. Those who drove to the high school for classes today were required to leave their cars at the school.
Sally E. Bahner Photo
Streets surrounding Walsh were packed with cars.
Marcia Chambers Photo
By mid-day parents were coming by the high school, asking when they could pick up their cars their kids had left behind. At that time the crossing guard on duty said he didn’t know. Morgan said that arrangements are being made for kids to pick up their cars. .
Morgan said that the evacuation process coordinated by the police and the Board of Education “was extremely well run and very effective and efficient.”
Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez praised the joint effort, saying it ensured “the safe evacuation of all students and staff.
“It was a very carefully coordinated response to an unforeseen event. We were able to work closely with our Emergency Response partners to swiftly and safely mitigate this incident.”
That was echoed by Fatma Issa, who has two daughters at the high school, and received the call at work. She said she was notified around 9:30 or 10 a.m. “They did a good job. They were organized,” she said. “I have no complaints.”
Morgan said he expects it to be “business as usual” tomorrow.
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