Police search Athol, Gardner hospitals following bomb threat

Athol Hospital received a bomb threat early Thursday morning, but it was determined to not be credible. 

Athol Hospital received a bomb threat early Thursday morning, but it was determined to not be credible.  FILE PHOTO

By Max Bowen

Athol Daily News Editor

Published: 01-04-2024 12:25 PM

ATHOL—A bomb threat e-mailed to Athol Hospital on Thursday morning has been determined to not be a credible threat, according to Athol Police.

Police from Athol and Gardner responded to a report of the threat on Thursday at 8:08 a.m., police said in a statement. A hospital spokesperson said that the facility’s Code Yellow procedure for bomb threats was initiated at the Athol Hospital, and the campus was placed on Code Black Diversion for approximately three hours. Both campuses were searched and cleared and hospital operations resumed by noon on Thursday.

“As a precautionary measure, Code Yellow (bomb threat) procedures were also initiated on the Heywood Hospital campus in Gardner,” the statement from the hospital read. “This threat is suspected to be part of recent ‘swatting’ activity taking place throughout the state and across the country.”

This story will be updated as more information is made available.

Max Bowen can be reached at 413-930-4074 or at mbowen@recorder.com.

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