School bomb threats were up in North Carolina last year

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) – A study says the number of school bomb threats in North Carolina last year rose noticeably from three years ago.

Citing a report from the nonprofit Educator’s School Safety Network, the Asheville Citizen-Times reports that there were 26 bomb threats reported by the North Carolina Department of Education during the 2015-16 school year, an 18.2 percent increase as compared to 2013-14.

The nonprofit says U.S. schools experienced nearly 1,300 bomb threats in 2015-16, an increase of 106 percent compared to that same period in 2012-13.

Officials say the threats create a frightening situation for parents and community members and hold the likelihood of severe penalties for people making the threats.

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