Another false bomb threat reported at McGann-Mercy
Two weeks after local authorities responded to four threats in two days made to local schools, Riverhead police were called to yet another bomb scare at Bishop McGann-Mercy High School — and another bomb report that turned out to be false.
According to Riverhead Sgt. Sean Egan, police were called to the school at 12:55 p.m. after the principal reported the school received a call from someone reporting there was a bomb in the building.
Students and faculty were evacuated, and after the junior high school and high school were both cleared by 1:30 p.m., everyone was allowed back in the building.
Close to two dozen students were outside on Friday, which according to the high school’s calendar, was a midterm makeup day at the school. Mercy spokeswoman Robin Bay said students were taking Regents exams at the time of the threat. Students were taken to the junior high where they were given back their tests.
“In compliance with NYSED, a variance report will be filed with the Board of Regents indicating the unique circumstance of the test,” Debbie Kneidl, the school’s director of advancement, wrote in an email.
Parents received an automated phone call from Charles Bender, the school’s dean of students, informing them of the threat, noting that Friday night’s evening activities would resume as scheduled.
The call came two weeks after two false bomb threats were made at McGann-Mercy two days in a row. On the second day, after Mercy students were transported to Riverhead High School, another false threat was made at Riverhead High School, forcing both schools to dismiss their students early. Threats were also made to Southampton schools that second day.
Sgt. Egan said Friday that the department is “still actively pursuing the other threats along with this one.” However due to the ongoing status of the investigations, he could not release further information.
