The Latest: School threats could be part of "swatting" trend

DENVER – The Latest on schools across the country evacuated because of threats (all times local):

3:20 p.m.

Threats made against schools across the country that led to evacuations on Monday could be the latest example of so-called "swatting" against schools.

In recent months, hoaxers playing online games have allegedly used proxy servers and other high-tech identity-disguising tools to anonymously threaten schools online or in phone messages with electronic voices to trigger a huge police response, including SWAT teams.

The latest threats led to the evacuation of schools in Colorado, Delaware, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. Media outlets in the United Kingdom also reported evacuations.

Some officials described Monday's threats as automated, and the ones made in Colorado and Minnesota were received just before noon local time.

____

2:50 p.m.

Media outlets across the United States, from New England to Wisconsin and California, as well as in the United Kingdom are reporting school evacuations because of threats.

Authorities in Colorado and New Hampshire say the threats led to the evacuation of some schools.

A spokeswoman for the Colorado Division of Emergency Management, Micki Trost, says the threats made Monday appear to be related to the ones made at schools across the country.

In Colorado, two elementary schools in Parker and Pueblo County were evacuated but other schools that got what were described as automated threats remained in session. In New Hampshire, police say at least four schools were evacuated.

Recent previous threats made against multiple districts including Los Angeles and New York City have turned out to be hoaxes.

____

2:25 p.m.

Media outlets across the country, from New England to Wisconsin and California, as well as in the United Kingdom are reporting school evacuations because of threats.

Authorities in Colorado and New Hampshire say the threats led to the evacuation of schools.

A spokeswoman for the Colorado Division of Emergency Management, Micki Trost, says the threats made Monday appear to be related to the ones made at schools across the country. In Colorado, an elementary school in the Denver suburb of Parker was evacuated after getting what Douglas County School District spokeswoman Paula Hans described as an automated phone message.

In New Hampshire, police say Portsmouth High School, Fuller Elementary School in Keene, Berlin Middle School in Berlin, and Amherst Street Elementary School in Nashua received threats Monday.