North Central Iowa Schools Among Several Across the Country Targeted by Hoax Threats

At least three Iowa school districts, including two in north central Iowa, reported receiving a swatting threat on Friday (10.24), forcing some classes to be cancelled, in a series of AI-generated calls that appeared to target schools that start with the letter A.

Algona, AGWSR, and Alburnett schools all publicly announced they had received hoax threats about explosives in school.

Algona Police said its investigation suggested districts that start with the letter A had been subjected to the calls. They conducted a search that included an officer and dog trained to detect explosive devices.  Algona Police Chief Bo Miller says that anytime a threat is made, law enforcement takes it seriously.                             

AGWSR superintendent Ben Petty, who succeeded Erik Smith, now the Superintendent of New Hampton and Turkey Valley schools, sent a letter to parents notifying them of the threat it received regarding explosives at a school. The letter described the threat as an AI-generated voice message. 

According to a post on Alburnett’s school Facebook page, law enforcement did not find anything suspicious. However, the Alburnett Schools decided to release early Friday out of precaution, as did Algona, though Friday night and weekend activities continued.

AGWSR did not end classes early Friday, but did give parents the option of picking up their students before school dismissed at the regular time.

The threats were among several made across the country on Friday.