SPRINGFIELD – As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Illinois State Police (ISP) had reports of local law enforcement in 19 counties, totaling 21 calls, receiving threats directed towards schools.
Responders did not locate any actual threats as a result of these calls.
The ISP Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center currently has no information concerning credible threats related to school safety.
Law enforcement, public safety, and private sector security officials are encouraged to remain vigilant and report all suspicious behavior to local police agencies.
Communities in Illinois, and across the country, are experiencing what is referred to as swatting – dangerous and illegal fake calls about an active shooter situation, typically at a school. While state and national intelligence agencies have seen a pattern of these fake calls, each call is taken seriously.
Locations in Illinois that have reported calls Wednesday include:
City | County |
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Champaign | Champaign County |
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Chicago | Cook County |
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Aurora | DuPage County |
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Carbondale | Jackson County |
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Murphysboro | Jackson County |
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Mount Vernon | Jefferson County |
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Vienna | Johnson County |
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Dixon | Lee County |
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Decatur | Macon County |
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Granite City | Madison County |
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Collinsville | Madison County |
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Centralia | Marion County |
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Bloomington | McLean County |
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Jacksonville | Morgan County |
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Peoria | Peoria County |
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Pittsfield | Pike County |
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Eldorado | Saline County |
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Springfield | Sangamon County |
Freeport | Stephenson County |
Marion | Williamson County |
Rockford | Winnebago County |