Three West Orange Schools Targeted With Bomb Threats On Election Day 😳

Three schools in West Orange received bomb threats early Tuesday morning, prompting swift police responses and temporary evacuations. Authorities have since determined all threats to be non-credible.

One of the threats was directed at Gregory Elementary School on Gregory Avenue — which was also serving as a polling place for Election Day. Police and local officials quickly investigated and cleared the building, allowing it to reopen by 7:47 a.m., a township spokesperson told Patch.

Two additional schools — Washington Elementary and Hazel Elementary — also received similar threats.

According to school officials, these incidents appear to be part of a broader wave of hoax threats impacting polling sites across several New Jersey counties, including Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Passaic.

Superintendent Responds

West Orange School Superintendent Hayden Moore confirmed the coordinated response from law enforcement and emphasized that all schools were declared safe after inspections by the Essex County Bomb Squad.

“Today the district experienced three bomb threats directed at schools within the West Orange School District and we have been advised by our local authorities that there has been a national bomb threat affecting polling stations across New Jersey,” Moore said.

“After thorough inspections, the Essex County team has declared our schools safe. While classes had yet to begin, we evacuated voters, students, and staff out of an abundance of caution until each building was cleared.”

“The district is working closely with the West Orange Police Department, and additional patrols have been deployed around polling locations township-wide. We thank our community for their continued support as we remain committed to the safety of our students, staff, and faculty.”