Anthrax threat made to school hours after bomb threat

by Krystal Paco

Guam - An anthrax threat was made to Wettengel Elementary School this morning just a few hours after a bomb threat had forced the evacuation of the Dededo campus as well as Okkodo High School.

It was a busy morning for public safety officials as classes were interrupted at Wettengel Elementary School not once, but twice today. Shortly after 7:30am 911 received bomb threats for both Wettengel and Okkodo High School forcing evacuation of both Dededo campuses. "This morning it was a great effort from the police department the fire department and homeland security they all came out to the same sites did a search on both schools and they all cleared both schools roughly at the same time shortly before 9:30," said Department of Education deputy superintendent Rob Malay.

As Wettengel students returned to class, he says another threat was made just after 10am, forcing evacuation again. "A second call came in. a suspicious package call. But there has been no mail received at the school today. All the mail that was received previously had been opened and dispersed, so there was very little validity to that call so the evacuation was called off."

An all-clear was given for the anthrax scare at 10:49 - just in time for students to eat their lunch. Both Malay and Dededo mayor Melissa Savares commend parents for following proper protocol in the event of an emergency.

Malay said, "It's absolutely a parents right to do what they deem necessary once the all-clear is given and they have been cooperative so kudos to them for following the fact sheet number three issued by the Joint Information Center; don't rush to the school and add to the chaos. They did a great job on being patient."

"Talk to all family members and have a plan on what you need to do and where you need to be. If they're in schools remain where they're at remain indoors as much as possible but in cases like this follow whatever the directions are of the organization," the mayor added. "Of course, the campuses were locked down the kids were brought to a safe area we just don't want everybody running around the village looking for their family members."

Savares adds today's threats are frustrating, especially with recent national and international headlines.

GPD and GFD are investigating and will forward the cases accordingly. If you have any information, call Guam Crime Stoppers at 477-HELP (4357).