School Districts across the Northland have been sending letters to parents and staff, stating they have been made aware of an internet trend, promoting school violence.

This week, a Tik Tok trend emerged regarding alleged threats to schools, including threats of shootings and bombings, specifically to happen on Dec. 17.

The Minnesota Department of Safety (DPS) wrote that they have made local law enforcement agencies and school administrators around the state aware of the national threat circulating on social media.

They say law enforcement agencies across the state reported 29 threats made to schools, with more than half coming within 24 hours of Friday the 17th.

DPS writes that local and state law enforcement have not identified the threats as credible at this time.

Multiple school districts around the Northland notified parents of the trend ahead of Friday’s school day.

Those include Duluth, Cloquet, Proctor, and Hibbing schools, which sent out letters stating they have made local law enforcement aware of the situation and they may be bringing in additional resources.

Some schools in Minnesota closed Friday as a precaution.

Jill Wartner, a parent with 3 kids in the Cloquet area said she didn’t feel comfortable sending her kids to school Friday.

“I think every threat is very real. Unfortunately the world we live in nowadays I’ve always been fearful. You just never know,” said Wartner.

She believes it’s important to have conversations with her kids about threats like this.

“Anytime anyone makes any kind of comment, you know pictures, something that it should be taken seriously, so having those conversations so they’re aware of their surroundings and also of what other people are doing I think are very important,” she said.

DPS writes the origins of the threat remain unknown and there is no evidence to suggest that any mass casualty or severe violence incidents will happen.

The Minnesota Department of Education and Department of Public Safety are monitoring the situation and will provide additional updates.

To see the original story and read related articles, follow this link to the KBJR-TV website. https://www.kbjr6.com/2021/12/17/leaders-northland-schools-notify-parents-tik-tok-trend-encouraging-...