Federal, state and local law enforcement are investigating a large wave of hoax 911 calls reporting active shooters at schools across the U.S..

According to reports, the calls are consistent and coordinated. They are grouped state-by-state and district-by-district, and they're also sustained. More than 130 such calls have been received in the last month alone.

In the last two weeks, AlertsUSA has monitored dozens of instances of such calls leading to a large police response, only to find nothing.

Perhaps most curious are reports from Minnesota and Louisiana citing  local authorities who say the calls appear to be originating from overseas, and in particular, from Ethiopia. 

The hoax calls are referred to as "swatting." The term denotes calls that falsely report an act of violence in progress or about to occur. The resulting rapid deployment of armed law enforcement to a specific target, anticipating possible violence, has sometimes ended tragically.

While a motive has not been established for the wave of calls, it is clear they are being made in an organized, systematic manner which takes research and planning. This itself is raising particular concerns with law enforcement at all levels. Is the goal simply to spread fear in our communities, or to perhaps gauge response times and tactics? 

Regardless, AlertsUSA urges caution, vigilance, and increased situational awareness on the part of parents, school employees, and law enforcement. 

We will have more on the topic in this weekend's issue of Threat Journal newsletter.