Concord High School went into a brief lockdown Thursday after the school district was informed of an armed threat, which is believed to be a hoax.

Principal Michael Reardon said the school went into lockdown in the morning after the Superintendent’s Office called to inform the school of a threat that someone had entered the high school with a weapon.

It is spring vacation week for Concord schools, so the building was mostly empty. But Reardon said there were some students in the building who were participating in sports practice for wrestling and girls basketball, and there were some contractors doing work in the building, who all followed the lockdown protocols.

Concord Police responded and cordoned off the roads around the school, including N. Fruit Street and Westbourne Road, and about six or seven officers entered the school to search, but did not find any threat.

The incident is one of several threats that were called in at schools throughout the state Thursday according to the New Hampshire Department of Safety, and all are believed to be hoaxes at this time. 

Multiple state agencies are assisting local law enforcement agencies that are responding to the calls.

“At this time, these reports are believed to be a hoax,” the statement read. “However, all threats will be taken seriously until such time as their validity is determined. Everyone is encouraged to report any suspicious activity to their local law enforcement agency.”

 This is the second time New Hampshire has received similar widespread hoax threats to schools on the same day. On Dec. 8 – also a Thursday – threats were called in at St. John Regional School in Concord and Franklin High School, as well as other schools, which were all determined to be hoaxes.

This story will be updated.

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