Police made an arrest after terroristic threats against Urbana High School Main stories

URBANA, Ill. (WAND) – Urbana police detectives, along with FBI agents and officers from the Chicago Police Department, have arrested a 16-year-old girl believed to be involved in terrorist threats against an Urbana high school.

According to Urbana Police, around 7 a.m. on Nov. 7, UHS officers contacted the Urbana Police School Resource Officer regarding a threat from an unknown person calling the school office.

Police said the caller mentioned that he was going to kill the students by shooting them at the high school and also mentioned using pipelines.

Officers reported several additional calls to the school from an unknown male and female from different numbers, making similar terroristic threats, after they arrived on scene.

Classes at Urbana Middle School and High School were canceled for the day pending verification of the threats and investigation.

The high school was immediately closed. Students, staff and buses traveling along the road were diverted to a pre-determined reunion location.

Later, the police found out that an unknown person left a message with similar threats on the secondary school’s voicemail.

On Tuesday, Champaign County police executed an arrest warrant for a 16-year-old girl who was identified as one of the offenders in the case.

The arrest warrant was secured by the Champaign County Prosecutor’s Office following a joint investigation. The arrest was made in the 7000 Block of S. Wabash in Chicago.

Authorities said the juvenile was taken to the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center, where she is awaiting further arraignment on charges of making terroristic threats.

Law enforcement officials say they are treating the Nov. 16 and Nov. 18 email threats against Urbana High School as separate incidents from the Nov. 7 and Nov. 9 threats.

All threats are currently being investigated jointly by the FBI and Urbana Police based on new allegations. Urbana police believe it’s likely part of a larger national trend.

Police believe that staff and children were not in immediate danger.

The school district recently added weapons detection systems in an effort to improve security at Urbana High School.

Urbana police are asking anyone with additional information or video of the incident to contact police at 217-384-2320.

It is possible to arrange for the information to be shared privately. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can also submit a tip to Crime Stoppers at: 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at 373tips.com; or the “P3 Tips” mobile app.