By Staff Reports
For Charleston Gazette-Mail
Kanawha County Schools and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office are keeping an eye on a new trend called the “Cat in the Hat” after Wayne County Schools received several threats including the popular Dr. Seuss character. The trend involves sending AI-generated images of the Cat in the Hat with ominous messages to schools.
While no threats have been made toward any public schools in Kanawha County, KCS communications director Chris Williams said school officials and the Sheriff’s Office are monitoring the situation.
“Our security team and local law enforcement had already seen the videos and had been working on it behind the scenes,” said Williams, adding that KCSO officers have “increased their visibility around schools just out of an abundance of caution.”
Wayne County threats
Wayne County Schools reported — with a Wayne Police Department post shared Thursday on Facebook — that students from various schools in the district had received threatening messages on social media from an individual or individuals using the username “Cat in the Hat.”
Wayne County Schools stated in its post that it has reported the messages to law enforcement, who have not identified evidence of a credible threat, according to Town of Wayne Police Chief Cass McMillian.
“At this time, it appears that this may be a spam message that law enforcement agencies dealt with last school year in several counties in West Virginia,” McMillian said. “Wayne County law enforcement agencies along with our School Resource Officers will continue to follow up on this and any other issues which may arise to keep the children and citizens of Wayne County safe.”
According to the school district’s post, Wayne County Schools will continue operating as normal.
What you should do
When asked about what steps parents and children can take when it comes to threats like this, Williams said internet safety is key.
“If you come across anything like this, you just don’t interact with it,” Williams said. “Don’t like it, don’t share it, don’t leave comments. If it involves your school or KCS, tell your parent or teacher.”
Read more from HDMedia, here.
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