


Portsmouth High School, on New Hampshire’s coast, did not open for school today and remains closed after it received a threat of a school shooting.
“This evening the Portsmouth Police Department notified me of a threat to commit a school shooting at Portsmouth High School via a social media platform. They received a video of someone saying they would shoot up the school. The police department is following up on leads,” Portsmouth Superintendent of Schools Zach McLaughlin wrote in a statement posted to the school’s Facebook page at 10:23 p.m. Wednesday.
McLaughlin wrote that he made the decision to close the schools “out of an abundance of caution and a commitment to the safety of our school community.”
The state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management released a statement this morning that it is “aware of a threat.”
“We continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to ensure that schools in New Hampshire remain safe,” the agency’s statement continued. “All threats are taken seriously until such time as their validity is determined. Everyone is encouraged to report any suspicious activity to their local law enforcement agency.”
The town of Portsmouth has been a prime spot for and has received a lot of media coverage because of presidential campaign pushes, with both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump making appearances there. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on July 12, 2016, endorsed Clinton for president during a rally at the high school.
Superintendent McLaughlin added in his post that a moment like this one “can be laced with fear, anger, and sadness. Amid this challenging time, we appreciate your support as we do our best to keep our students and staff safe. Thank you, and good night.”
This is a developing story.