Officials: Students created unfounded threat at Palatine High

Palatine police determined that one or more Palatine High School students were responsible for creating an unfounded threat against the school on social media and attributing it to a former student, school officials said Monday.

"The Palatine Police Department continues to investigate the incident and is confident that it will be brought to a successful conclusion," police said in a news release. "We are also confident that when someone is identified as the person responsible for violating any criminal law attached to this matter, they will be arrested and prosecuted."

Palatine High School Principal Gary Steiger said the threat resulted in attendance Monday being as low as 50 percent at the start of the day, and then dropping to about 30 percent by the end.

"The most recent social media messages have been extremely disruptive and we will uncover all that took place," Steiger said.

The rumor also spread to Fremd High School, also in Palatine, where Principal Kurt Tenopir reassured students and staff there was no imminent safety concern.