Update: This article has been updated with information from the Northborough Police Department.
NORTHBOROUGH – Police are on scene at Algonquin Regional High School today following the report of a possible active shooter. However, district leaders say the report was a hoax.
According to a message from Superintendent Greg Martineau that was shared with district parents and guardians and posted by the Southborough Police Department, the Northborough Police Department received a phone call about a possible active shooter at Algonquin Regional High School.
The Northborough Police Department wrote that the call indicated that there was an “active threat in progress” at Algonquin. The department activated their response protocol, and their immediate communication with school administrators indicated that there was no ongoing threat.
“Everyone is safe,” Martineau wrote. “The Northborough Police Department is on-site and will remain on-site this afternoon.”
According to Martineau, police have assessed the situation as a hoax, and the high school building is clear.
Martineau said there were other communities who received the same call this morning, and there have been “numerous” reports of Massachusetts schools over the past several weeks receiving calls which have been unsubstantiated.
“The District understands the anxiety a situation like this can cause for families, students, staff and the community,” Martineau said.
He said the district’s top priority is students’ and staff members’ safety and well-being, and the district takes any and all reports of potential threats seriously. District staff are making effort to maintain an environment where students and staff feel safe, he said.
Martineau encouraged parents and students to report anything that could threaten school safety, and the district will work will law enforcement in these situations.
The Northborough Police Department thanked Southborough, Westborough and Marlborough police for also responding.
