Bamberg school evacuated as Barnwell High gets threat

BAMBERG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A school was evacuated Thursday afternoon in Bamberg, and there was a threat at Barnwell High School.

The Bamberg Police Department said Richard Carroll Elementary, 1980 Main Highway, had to be evacuated after noon.

Superintendent Dottie Brown said the school was evacuated after multiple phone calls from parents and others saying they’d heard about a potential bomb threat.

“While there was no direct, credible threat made to the school, students and staff were all evacuated safely out of an abundance of caution,” Brown said.

In addition to the evacuation, all after-school programs were canceled Thursday, according to the Bamberg County School District.

Meanwhile, there was a threat Thursday at Barnwell High.

It prompted the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office to offer a $200 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for bomb threats or school disruptions in the county.

In addition to Thursday’s threat, there was one last week and two in Williston recently.

There’s been an arrest in connection with one of the threats in Williston and authorities are searching for the person responsible for the second.

Anyone with tips on the Barnwell County threats is urged to call 803-541-1078.

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