Authorities trace threats at Carolina Forest High School to internet server in India

CAROLINA FOREST, S.C. (WBTW) — Horry County authorities investigating bomb threats and a “swatting incident” on back-to-back days at Carolina Forest High School said Thursday afternoon that the hoax calls have been traced to an internet server in India.

The same server has been linked to other recent school threats across the country, including another one Thursday in the Midwest, an Horry County police spokesperson said, adding that authorities are also aware of “additional misinformation in the community surrounding the incident.”

Some of that information claimed that there was a real threat to safety, according to police. However, it appears to have been generated by Artificial Intelligence programs and shared via social media.

“Let us be clear – CFHS [students] were safe and secure today,” the police spokesperson said. “The biggest threat to that safety and security was misinformation itself.”

The spokesperson also said people should “turn to trusted sources of information only.”

“Throughout today’s events, HCS and HCPD coordinated to provide messages direct to parents and guardians via HCS emergency emails and phone calls,” the spokesperson said. “If by chance parents or guardians did not receive the phone calls or emails, please reach out to the school directly to update any student emergency contact information.”

Meanwhile, school officials said Thursday afternoon that overnight security is being beefed up at the school in the aftermath of the second straight day of threats.

While all of the threats have been deemed hoaxes, Principal Gaye Driggers said late Thursday afternoon in a letter to parents that two security guards will be on campus overnight “to ensure the safety of our school and school grounds.”

Driggers’ letter said the school received a bomb threat at about 10:25 a.m. and that it was similar to one that led to students being evacuated on Wednesday. While school officials were dealing with that threat, and with officers already on campus, Driggers said Horry County and Myrtle Beach 911 centers received separate calls about a gunman on campus that led to an even bigger police response.

“These types of hoax/swatting calls are a deliberate attempt to wreak havoc and cause a disruption to an organization,” Drigger said. “Our school administration is just as frustrated as our students and parents, but we are committed to working with our law enforcement partners in keeping our campus safe.”

In light of Wednesday’s threat, which also proved to be unfounded, News13 chose not to report on the initial bomb threat on Thursday to avoid possibly giving the caller additional publicity.

An Horry County police spokesperson told News13 earlier just before noon on Thursday that officers were completing a sweep of the school out of an abundance of caution and that the threat appeared to be a hoax.

The spokesperson added that an investigation would be conducted to “identify and hold the individual or individuals responsible accountable.”

Shortly after 11 a.m., Horry County Schools said in a news release that all students were safe and that “based on the information provided by law enforcement officials assisting the school yesterday with the same scenario, they are working jointly on a new plan to safely check and sweep the school buildings without requiring a full evacuation of all our buildings.”

The full text of Driggers’ letter to parents and guardians on Thursday is below:

“I want to provide a final update on today’s incident and thank law enforcement for their continued professionalism and swiftness in assisting us.

At approximately 10:25 a.m. this morning, our front office received a bomb threat call which was similar to yesterday’s call.  After the bomb threat call was received at Carolina Forest High School and unbeknownst to our staff, Horry County and Myrtle Beach E911 dispatch centers received separate calls for service indicating there was an active shooter on the campus of Carolina Forest High School. Police Officers were already on our campus investigating the bomb threat when other officers arrived responding to what they believed was an active threat on our campus.

All these calls are now believed to be a hoax and law enforcement is actively investigating to determine who is responsible.

As you can see there were many moving parts to today’s incident and the main priority and focus, as always, was to keep our students and staff safe and reassure them that everything was ok.

During the day multiple PA announcements were made to reassure students and staff that they were safe. Students were asked to remain in their classroom and instruction continued. School administrators also visited many of the classrooms and helped to answer any questions.

Per law enforcement protocols, the school gate was secured to control the incident location and allow first responders to do their work. Once the ‘all clear’ was given, the gate was reopened to allow parents to enter and sign out their students.  Students who remained on campus continued with their school day.

These types of hoax/swatting calls are a deliberate attempt to wreak havoc and cause a disruption to an organization. Our school administration is just as frustrated as our students and parents, but we are committed to working with our law enforcement partners in keeping our campus safe.

As an added safety precaution and out of an abundance of caution, we will have two security officers on our campus overnight to ensure the safety of our school and school grounds.

I know these last two days have not been easy, but I do want to thank the students, staff, and parents for their continued cooperation and understanding during this difficult situation.”

Anyone with information about suspicious or criminal activity is asked to contact local law enforcement at 843-248-1520, or 911 if there is an emergency.

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Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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