An all-clear was given at Red Oak School in Highland Park after it received a bomb threat Friday for the second day in a row following a controversial social media post that went viral.
The Highland Park Police Department responded around 10:28 a.m. Friday to Red Oak Elementary School, 530 Red Oak Lane in Highland Park, for a report of a bomb threat.
An out-of-state law enforcement agency notified Highland Park police that their agency received a report of an email indicating a bomb threat targeting “Red Oak School” without an exact location.
The school said in a statement that the building was evacuated and students were relocated.
Officers and detectives, along with canine units, were spotted at the school campus.
A search of the school building using dogs trained in bomb detection was completed and no credible threat was found.
City officials said the bomb threat is the second to have been made following one Thursday morning.
During that incident, a local news organization reported to investigators that they received an email indicating a bomb threat at the school.
The investigation showed similar emails threatening other public buildings across the country were sent to a number of organizations nationwide within the same timeframe Thursday.
Thursday’s search did not locate any devices in the school and the threat was also deemed not credible.
Last Friday, “Libs of TikTok” published a post on X, formerly Twitter, with a photo of a classroom that had a pride flag hanging up.
“Why would an elementary school have a massive progress pride flag hanging above students’ heads all day?” the post said before referencing “Red Oak School.”
The post did not specifically say it was Red Oak Elementary School in Highland Park or whether it was a different Red Oak School.
The post received almost 600,000 views, nearly 11,000 likes, over 3,000 shares and more than 2,000 comments.
The City of Highland Park said they are working with local and state agencies and the FBI.
Three other Red Oak schools in the country also received the same bomb threat on Thursday and Friday.
City officials said they are aware of the social media post and law enforcement is investigating it.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the Police Department is increasing patrols and visits to all Highland Park schools. The City greatly appreciates our partnership with North Shore School District 112, working together to protect the safety of students and staff,” the city said in a statement.