Garfield High School experienced a significant security scare last Friday afternoon when authorities were alerted to an anonymous bomb threat. The threat specified a demand for payment in Bitcoin, which resulted in the evacuation of the school, home to approximately 1,600 students.
The unsettling incident began around 2 p.m. when school officials received an email warning of the presence of bombs on campus. The message stated that the explosives would be detonated within two hours unless a payment of Bitcoin was made, specifically mentioning a sum of $1,600. However, there was some ambiguity about whether the amount demanded was indeed $1,600 in Bitcoin or a staggering 1,600 Bitcoin, the latter being valued at over $100 million.
Detective Eric Muñoz of the Seattle Police Department reported that law enforcement was cautious in assessing the threat, but officers promptly mobilized to conduct a thorough search of the school premises. With the assistance of school security, they scoured the campus for any suspicious activity or devices. Fortunately, the search yielded no findings of concern, allowing the school to return to its normal operations shortly thereafter.
As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation into this attempted extortion continues. This incident is part of a troubling trend; bomb threats demanding Bitcoin payments have surged in recent months. A similar scare occurred last October when over 40 school districts in Florida received identical emails threatening bomb attacks unless Bitcoin was provided. The investigation by law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security, later revealed those threats to be a coordinated hoax.
The community remains on alert as the investigation unfolds, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by digital extortion and the malicious use of technology in threatening public safety.
