PELLA – Pella High School was briefly placed under “secure” status on Friday during what authorities are describing as a broader “swatting” incident.

According to the Pella Police Department, Pella High School received an anonymous call at around 10:55 AM on Friday reporting a possible exterior bomb threat at Pella High School. The incident was dispatched as an active threat, but after officers arrived on scene and assessed the situation, they determined that there was no active threat inside or outside of the school. Out of an abundance of caution, the school was placed on “secure” status while officers searched the building and surrounding areas.

Police say that, through a thorough investigation and coordination with state and federal partners, they determined that the anonymous call received by Pella High School was part of a broader swatting incident that occurred on Friday. Authorities are currently investigating the source of the call.

The Pella Police Department stated in a press release that although the call was determined to be a swatting incident, law enforcement and school officials must treat these reports as legitimate threats until they can be investigated and determined otherwise.