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Columbine High School on lockout after phone threats

DENVER, Jan 23 – Columbine High School in Colorado, scene of a 1999 shooting rampage that killed a teacher and 12 students, was placed on “lockout” on Thursday as police investigated a threat, a school district spokeswoman said.

The nature of the threat was not immediately made public. A spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said three telephone threats had been made to the high school around 10 a.m. local time.

A lockout prevents anyone from entering or leaving the school, although classes remained in session, Jefferson County Sheriff’s spokesman Mark Techmeyer said, adding that there was an increased police presence at the school.

Techmeyer said threats made to Columbine High School were not uncommon.

Six other Jefferson County public schools were also placed on lockout following the threats, according to the Jefferson County Public School district.

“All students and staff are safe,” the district said on its Twitter feed.

In April 1999. Two heavily armed Columbine High School students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, opened fire at the school, killing a teacher and 12 classmates before committing suicide.