< Back to front page Text size – +

Threats lead to tightened security at Concord-Carlisle High

E-mail|Link|Comments () September 24, 2009 08:02 PM

By Stewart Bishop, Globe Correspondent

Officials at Concord-Carlisle High School say they'll be stepping up security as school opens Friday morning after two threatening messages were found at the school in less than a week.

Concord police, along with officers from a regional police consortium, will conduct a "controlled entry" into the school, said Concord Deputy Police Chief Barry Neal. Students will be scanned by metal detectors and no bags or backpacks will be allowed inside the school.

"We're taking extra precautions to ensure faculty and student safety," said Neal. "There will be a strong police presence there tomorrow."

A threatening message was discovered at the school Thursday afternoon, police said. The message, which police and school officials would only describe as a "disconcerting threat," was the second one found at the school in less than a week. Barry said police were taking the threat very seriously.

School officials would not elaborate on the specific nature of the threats, but Concord-Carlisle Principal Peter Badalament said he believed the police response was appropriate. "This threat is serious enough in nature to warrant this type of response," Badalament said. "This was the second such incident, and we have reason to believe the two are related."