A Northeast Kingdom man is in police custody after he claimed to have planted bombs at a local high school, sending multiple campuses into lockdown Thursday.According to the Newport Police Department, Cypher Aiken, 25, sent a text message saying that he planted bombs inside North Country Union High School (NCUHS). In a letter sent to families, the North Country Supervisory Union said Aiken is a former employee of the district, and officials considered the threat against NCUHS to be credible.The high school was evacuated shortly after 1 p.m., and other schools in Newport were placed on lockdown while law enforcement swept the area for explosives. Vermont State Police confirmed that members of their Bomb Squad responded to assist with the investigation.Aiken was located at a Shaw’s supermarket on Route 5 in Derby. His car was also searched for explosive devices.He was arrested on multiple charges, including domestic terrorism, threatening a civilian population with mass destruction and mass killings. Aiken was ordered held on $50,000 bail pending a Friday arraignment. The law enforcement operation on the high school campus is expected to continue Friday. All classes at NCUHS and its adjoining technical center, North Country Career Center, are canceled.
A Northeast Kingdom man is in police custody after he claimed to have planted bombs at a local high school, sending multiple campuses into lockdown Thursday.
According to the Newport Police Department, Cypher Aiken, 25, sent a text message saying that he planted bombs inside North Country Union High School (NCUHS).
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In a letter sent to families, the North Country Supervisory Union said Aiken is a former employee of the district, and officials considered the threat against NCUHS to be credible.
The high school was evacuated shortly after 1 p.m., and other schools in Newport were placed on lockdown while law enforcement swept the area for explosives. Vermont State Police confirmed that members of their Bomb Squad responded to assist with the investigation.
Aiken was located at a Shaw’s supermarket on Route 5 in Derby. His car was also searched for explosive devices.
He was arrested on multiple charges, including domestic terrorism, threatening a civilian population with mass destruction and mass killings.
Aiken was ordered held on $50,000 bail pending a Friday arraignment.
The law enforcement operation on the high school campus is expected to continue Friday. All classes at NCUHS and its adjoining technical center, North Country Career Center, are canceled.
