EPHS placed on lockdown Friday due to anonymous threat

Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) was placed on lockdown just before 1 p.m. Friday due to a reported anonymous threat.

As of 2:45 p.m., an all-clear announcement had not been made and students and staff remained inside the building on “stay-put lockdown,” which means everyone remains in locked classrooms and instruction continues.

Students in the school who texted EPLN said they were urgently ushered out of hallways, cafeterias, and common areas into classrooms, and doors were locked behind them.

Minnesota State Patrol officers were seen still arriving at the scene after 2 p.m.

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Eden Prairie police were on site, posted at EPHS entrances and inside the building.

All vehicle entrances to the building were blocked and parents weren’t being allowed in to pick up their students.

Unconfirmed reports of a bomb threat made the rounds via social media, a student told EPLN via text. No fire department vehicles were observed at the scene.

A school staff member who came out to talk to parents referred to the lockdown as a “soft lockdown,” and students said that classes were continuing as normal inside the building.

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Students who had left the building for lunch or appointments were unable to get back in during the lockdown. Parents who came to pick up children were directed across the street to Round Lake to wait until the school reopened.

Eden Prairie Schools (EPS) sent an email to families shortly after the school was placed on lockdown. “Just a short while ago, one of our students received an anonymous threat,” the message said. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are placing the school on a stay-put lockdown. During a stay-put lockdown, outside visitors will not be allowed into the building and activity inside the building continues as normal with additional staff support. Classes and learning will continue in the building and students will not be allowed to exit until we are able to give an all-clear.

“Our Eden Prairie Police Department School Resource Officers are on site and investigating the source of the threat. Staff are supporting students, and the building is secure. Please know there have been similar threats across the state and country recently that all turned out to be hoaxes, and this threat follows a similar pattern.

We will follow up and let everyone know when we receive the all-clear.”

Watch for further updates at eplocalnews.org.