HOUSTON – Houston Independent School District officials have released the text from a threatening email sent to the district. The person who sent the email claimed he or she was a student who was being bullied.

The threat was first emailed to HISD Superintendent Terry Grier and others in the district around 8 p.m. Wednesday. It was forwarded to HISD police, and an investigation was immediately launched.



The email read, "Hello there. There is something you should know about, taking place tomorrow of 12/17/15, Thursday.

My story starts here. I have been bullied every day here, in one of the district high schools. Just because, I am 'different'. I turned to religion, to solve my problems, and found faith and comfort in Allah. He has helped me through a lot. So now, I must help him. He has called upon me and my fellow comrades to take action against you blasphemers and non-believers. You have denied Allah for too long. My 46 Jihad affiliates and I are going to unleash an massacre of epic proportion, targeting every single school and student in the district. We have an assorted collection of Kalashnikov rifles, MG240 Light machine guns, RPG Launchers, .50 Cal Sniper rifles, hand grenades, and to top it off: suicide vests. We have already planted napalm, propane, and pressure cooker explosives in multiple schools. They are set to go off in places that will cause maximum structural damage to each building: for maximum casualty. First responders will be in for quite the surprise, as we have highly trained sniper forces straight from Ar Raqqa. We will fight for our cause tomorrow, and all students in every school in the entire district will be slaughtered for their blasphemy and unbelief in the one true God, Allah. You will no longer get away with your dishonesty to our prophet.

Allah has called upon us:

Quran (3:56) - "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with

terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have

anyone to help."



You will no longer deny the wrath of Allah. He has sent us to serve his holy army. My name is (name redacted). You may not know this name now, but my name will be known to everyone. I will be known as the one man who truly saved this earth. For Allah. And if you think you will stop us, by canceling schools, or perhaps, adding security, it will not help.

If school is canceled, then there will be bombings regardless of whether students are there or not, and mass shootings will be taken to the streets. If security is stepped up, for tomorrow's fatwa, it will not help. We will take out any police and other security by any means necessary, even if we go down with them."

The email forced HISD officials to add extra security to campuses on Thursday. Similar threats were received this week by school districts across the nation.

HISD Police Chief Robert Mock reiterated at a media briefing on Thursday morning that the threat was not believed to be credible.

“The content of the email itself was just, was just so over the top as far as what was gonna occur. And the logistics of it just didn't pan out,” said Chief Mock. “We looked at it closely. And looked at the feasibility that this actually was something that could occur and based on the circumstances and what's in the email.”

No issues have been reported in the district as of Thursday afternoon.

"I'm glad the school district did not overreact,” Pam Fowler, a grandparent of a student at Condit Elementary School in Bellaire, said. “I think it was good they sent out the message. But it's very sad that we've gotta live like this now."

The threat — which was not specific to HISD or any district campus — is similar to those received this week by districts in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Dallas, Orlando, San Francisco, Long Beach and Broward County.

“The safety of our students and staff is always our main focus,” HISD Police Chief Robert Mock said. “Though we have no reason to believe this threat is credible, we’ve implemented additional security measures and brought in extra officers as a precautionary measure.”

Acting out of an abundance of caution, law enforcement officers and maintenance crews conducted sweeps of district buildings. Surrounding law enforcement agencies were notified, and additional officers — from HISD Police and agencies throughout the greater Houston area — were patrolling the district on Thursday as a precautionary measure.

A voicemail message was sent to parents on Wednesday night that said:

"Tonight we received a threat of violence similar to those received this week by districts across the nation including Los Angeles, New York and Miami.

"At this time, we do not believe the threat is credible. But as a precautionary measure, law enforcement officers are currently conducting random sweeps of school district buildings to ensure student safety.

"We have notified surrounding law enforcement agencies and will have additional officers on patrol in the morning.

"We ask you to be vigilant Thursday morning and report any suspicious activity to police.

"School will continue as scheduled.

"We appreciate your support and will provide you with additional information as it becomes available."

The increased police presence will continue through Friday.