Cincinnati area schools, police respond to TikTok challenge encouraging threats of violence

Police and school district officials across Greater Cincinnati are responding to a challenge on social media encouraging people to threaten schools with shootings and bomb threats on Friday. 

Cincinnati police say the posts, circulating on the social media platform TikTok, have garnered the attention of law enforcement agencies nationwide, though the posts haven't singled out a specific school or location. 

"On a local level, CPD has been actively monitoring the situation and we are working closely with our area schools. We patrol our city school grounds daily and will continue to do so," the Cincinnati Police Department said in a statement. 

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"We ask that parents talk to their children about the potential consequences their online posts and social media activity could have," the statement reads. 

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At Blanchester Local Schools, where a loaded gun was found in a student's locker Thursday morning, police presence is being increased in response to the posts, Superintendent Randy Dunlap wrote in a letter to parents. 

Dunlap cited a post that referred to Friday as "National Shoot Up Your School Day." 

A look back:Gun found in student’s locker at Blanchester High School, police say

Little Miami Local Schools also announced it's increasing police presence on its campuses. "While these threats and rumors do not target Little Miami specifically, we are taking preventative measures to bolster safety around all of our buildings," reads a post on the school district's Facebook page. 

Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell is urging parents to talk with their children about the seriousness of school threats. 

"It is difficult, if not impossible, to determine at the time these statements are made whether they are simply bad 'jokes' or instead credible threats," Fornshell said in a social media post, adding several students in Warren County are in the process of being arrested for making threatening statements. 

A closer look:  Mason Middle School student faces criminal charges after reports of violent threats

The emergence of these social media posts comes as a number of school districts throughout the region have responded to threats of violence in recent weeks. 

Enquirer media partner Fox19 contributed to this report.