Families fled in fear, animals were locked down, and cops swarmed zoos across the U.S. after a wave of terrifying hoax calls sparked emergency evacuations from Ohio to Arizona.
Authorities say the threats — including bogus bomb scares and fake active shooter reports — were all part of a growing “swatting” craze that’s draining police resources and terrifying the public.
Thankfully, no bombs or gunmen were found. But the panic was very real.
At the Akron Zoo in Ohio, visitors were rushed out Sunday after a threat triggered a massive police sweep. Officers later gave the all-clear, but the zoo shut its gates for the rest of the day anyway.
Just hours later, drama erupted again at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, where frightened guests were evacuated as police surrounded the area. Furious visitors blasted the disruption online after their family outings were cut short.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was also hit on Saturday. Zoo boss Tom Schmid revealed staff had just practiced emergency drills days earlier because of similar threats hitting zoos nationwide.
“This is part of life now,” Schmid warned grimly, saying officials must stay on constant alert as the threats keep escalating.
Zoos in Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, and Arizona have also been targeted in the alarming trend.
The FBI says swatting has exploded into a nationwide crisis. The fake emergency calls waste massive amounts of money, pull officers away from real emergencies, and can put innocent lives at risk.
Last year, dozens of colleges across America were thrown into lockdowns by similar hoaxes, with terrified students hiding under desks before learning the threats were fake.
Federal prosecutors recently charged a juvenile accused of making a string of swatting calls tied to a cybercrime group called “Purgatory.”
The FBI says it has tracked thousands of swatting incidents since launching a national database in 2023 — with schools, public buildings, and celebrities all in the crosshairs.
“Swatting is a serious crime with potentially dangerous consequences,” the FBI warned, noting that officers have been injured responding to fake emergencies and some victims have even suffered heart attacks from the terror.
