West Potomac put on lockdown after anonymous threat

West Potomac High School

West Potomac High School was put on lockdown status for more than an hour this morning after an anonymous threat was made against the school. 

The lockdown began around 9:45 a.m. and lasted until a little after 11 a.m. Fairfax County Police say the lockdown was lifted after the threat was determined to not be credible.

Police and Fairfax County Public Schools security personnel responded immediately to the school after the threat was received, according to a notice from the school sent to parents. 

“An anonymous tip was received by the FCPS security office in which a threat was directed at the school and, as a precaution, the school was placed into lockdown,” the letter said. “Police and security personnel were immediately on the scene, conducted a thorough investigation and determined the threat was not credible.”

The letter said extra security would remain in place until the end of the day as a precaution.

Police did not have further information on the nature of the threat. They did confirm that the lockdown was only in relation to the anonymous threat, and not any crimes in the surrounding area. 

Per the FCPS website, lockdown status means that all students stay in place with a teacher or staff member in locked classrooms, unobservable from outside (lights-off, window blinds closed, door windows obscured with paper). Students and staff members are to ignore fire alarms, and no one can enter or exit the school, except public safety personnel.