Topsham-area schools cancel classes after automated bomb threats, police say hoax

Maine School Administrative District 75 canceled classes on Monday, February 2, 2026, after automated voice messages claimed explosive devices had been placed in multiple district buildings, prompting a police investigation and widespread disruption for families and staff.

School officials in the Topsham-area district alerted families to the threats and called in local law enforcement. Topsham Police Department responded; police later determined that the bomb threat affecting Mt. Ararat High School was a hoax. Topsham police also reported that other Maine schools received similar threats, though public details remain limited and officials have not released a full timeline or a complete list of buildings named in the automated messages.

Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham was the only school explicitly confirmed in public reporting as having canceled classes because of a threat later judged to be false. The original notice that led to districtwide cancellations described automated voice messages asserting that explosive devices had been placed in multiple district buildings. A fragment of local reporting notes that Topsham Police Chief Marc Hagan was cited, but the provided text did not include his full statement.

The disruptions extended beyond immediate safety concerns. Students from Morse, Brunswick, Mt. Ararat, Lincoln Academy, and Freeport High School were reported to have joined community members on a nearby bridge as part of a separate wave of student activism. Ashby Hayward, a senior at Mt. Ararat, said, "Somebody needs to say something." Hayward added, "It's gonna fall on the youth to stand up for what's right in this country because the older generation is really what's screwing us up right now. So I think that showing the government that students care and that we can band together and really be a force against this is more important now than it has ever been before." Hayward also helped coordinate rides for 60-70 students to the event. Liv Drewniak, a senior at Morse and an organizer with Midcoast Youth Activists, said, "We felt that it was time to tell the people of America that the youth were not OK with what's happening and that we won't stand for it."

For local residents, the incident highlights two immediate concerns: safety and the practical cost of unexpected school closures. Parents who had to find emergency childcare or miss work to care for children faced out-of-pocket costs and lost hours. School transportation and meal programs were disrupted, while police and school administrators redirected staff time and resources toward threat assessment and communication. Those operational strains carry budgetary implications for a district that must balance routine educational spending with occasional emergency responses.

Key questions remain unanswered. MSAD 75 has not released a comprehensive statement identifying all affected buildings or confirming whether any other threats were ultimately declared hoaxes. Topsham Police Department has not released a full quoted explanation from Chief Marc Hagan in available excerpts, and no arrests or suspect identifications have been reported publicly.

Families and employers in Sagadahoc County should expect follow-up communications from MSAD 75 and Topsham Police as investigators clarify the scope of the automated messages and whether additional security measures or guidance will be issued. The episode underscores the need for clear school-to-home communication protocols and for law enforcement to provide timely public updates when safety and community operations are impacted.