Authorities releasing few details in Bismarck State threat

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — State and federal authorities have released few details about the incident that led to the arrest of a 16-year-old male and the lockdown of Bismarck State College earlier this week.

The teenager who was arrested Thursday on suspicion of threatening to shoot up the school's library remains in custody, the Bismarck Tribune (http://bit.ly/1liUzKX ) reported. However, details such as the teenager's possible motive have not been made public.

Police in Bismarck have said the threat posted on Twitter was deemed credible, and it prompted officials to put the school on lockdown just before 11:30 a.m. Thursday. A person saw the tweet and reported it to the FBI.

Police said the FBI traced the phone from where the threat was made and found it originated on the Bismarck State College campus. Officers from Bismarck and several assisting agencies began a floor-by-floor search of the campus, releasing students and faculty as each floor was cleared. Meanwhile, authorities were able to identify a suspect, and a North Dakota Highway Patrol trooper stopped the teen around 4 p.m. on U.S. Highway 83.

FBI spokesman Kyle Loven said the agency could provide few details because of the active investigation.

"We have had some conversations" with the individual, Loven said. "We'll make a determination as to where the investigation goes."

The teenager has not been publicly identified. He is not a student at Bismarck State.

The school's lockdown lasted more four hours and administrators canceled the remaining Thursday afternoon and night classes.

The school has nearly 4,100 students and is the third-largest college in the state university system.

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Information from: Bismarck Tribune, http://www.bismarcktribune.com

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