Maine schools go into lockdown after threat mentions Collins

ORONO, Maine (AP) — Several schools in northern and eastern Maine went into lockdown mode on Friday after a local business received a threat that mentioned Sen. Susan Collins, school officials said.

An Orono business received the threat on Friday morning in the form of a vague email message, Orono High School Principal Reg Ruhlin told the Bangor Daily News. Another school superintendent said the threat specified Collins and listed several high schools in the state.

Some of the schools, including a high school in Bangor, went into a “soft lockdown,” meaning school continued as normal but no one was allowed in or out of school until further notice.

The lockdowns took place during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Collins, a Republican who is up for reelection, has been under close watch during the proceedings because of the possibility she could emerge as a swing vote.

State Police said Friday they are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on the threat, which police described as “a web based threat received against a dozen Maine high schools.”

State Police declined to release the specifics of the threat. They said investigators were working to find the source of the threat and assess its credibility.