A number of schools, daycare facilities and other institutions throughout the state have been targeted by spam robocalls claiming they were targeted by an active shooter.

According to a release from the Watford City Police Department, a staff member at Badlands Elementary in Watford City received a call Thursday afternoon stating that an unknown individual was outside of the school building with a firearm. The staff member then notified local law enforcement. All other McKenzie County schools were placed into a secure status in accordance with their school safety plans as a precaution but were released by 1:50 p.m. after no threats against students were found.

The Minot Police Department released a statement Thursday evening saying phone threats were made to multiple childcare facilities in the area. Though officers responded and other measures were taken, Minot Police say at this time there is nothing that indicates the threats were credible.

The release from Watford City Police Chief Jesse Wellen said that a communication over the North Dakota State Radio indicated that school districts around the state had received the same call from the same phone number. The call was determined to be a hoax, and no actual threat was found to be occurring. Wellen stated the investigation was ongoing.

A representative at the McLean County Sheriff’s Department was able to confirm that a school in Garrison received one of the threatening calls but did not say if a lockdown procedure had occurred.