Update: Opelika police said Wednesday afternoon a bomb threat at Opelika High School has been resolved at about 1:51 p.m. Parents may now pick up their children at Opelika High School, and school bus routes will run as normal after dismissal.
The Opelika Police Department was called to OHS at about 11:45 a.m. in response to the threat, according to Allison Duke, community relations specialist for the OPD.
"Officers and OHS safely evacuated the students and staff to Southern Union State Community College," Duke said in a press release. "Auburn Police [Division] and the Lee County Sheriff's Office arrived to help clear the scene."
Duke said law enforcement officials investigated the scene and conducted a "thorough sweep" of the school before declaring the situation resolved with students allowed to return to campus after the all-clear was given.
The incident remains under investigation, and those with additional information are asked to contact the Opelika Police Department at 334-705-5200 or call the department's Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665. Alternatively, those with information may submit tips through the Opelika Police mobile app. People may wish to remain anonymous when submitting tips.
Original story:
Opelika police said Wednesday afternoon that officers are responding to a bomb threat at Opelika High School made around noon.
Police are asking people to avoid the area around the school at 1700 Lafayette Parkway and have closed the street until further notice.
Police said parents may pick up their children at the front of Southern Union State Community College, where students have been evacuated.
"[Parents] will need to see an administrator and present their ID," said Allison Duke, community relations specialist for the Opelika Police Department, in a press email. "Wait for an administrator to bring your child."
The Opelika Police Department also posted a public alert to its website at 12:17 p.m. warning those nearby of the threat.
Opelika City Schools confirmed the threat to The Plainsman but did not provide any additional comment.
The Plainsman will continue to update this story.
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Tim Nail, senior in journalism, is the community editor of The Auburn Plainsman.
