Multiple school districts were placed on lockdown in Berrien County on Thursday.

Lakeshore Public Schools said on social media it placed its buildings on lockdown due to “an external threat reported in the vicinity.” After about a half hour, the district said the lockdown had been lifted and classes resumed, but outdoor activities were moved inside. After working with police, the district later said all buildings were cleared and things are back to normal.

Lakeshore says it’s been confirmed “the incident was a ‘swatting’ event, which involves making a false report to elicit a large police response.” The district says there was no actual threat to its students.

Meanwhile, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department tells us it’s assisting at Lakeshore and at St. Joseph Public Schools, where it says a lockdown was also implemented and later lifted.

The St. Joseph Department of Public Safety has issued the following:

“Around 12:30 this afternoon, SJPS received a call from Berrien County Dispatch indicating an external threat to St. Joseph High School. Our staff and students followed our practiced procedures and went into lockdown immediately. Out of an abundance of caution, the other schools in SJPS were also put on lockdown.

We have now confirmed with law enforcement that there was no actual threat to the district. We are confident that our students are safe, therefore our buildings are no longer in lockdown. Per local authorities, this was an example of swatting-a false emergency call to prompt a heavy law enforcement response to a particular address. The false report came from an IP address overseas. Several districts experienced similar swatting incidents this afternoon.

We appreciate your cooperation and patience during this lockdown, as well as the immediate response of law enforcement officers and staff.”

There were also reports of lockdowns at Our Lady of the Lake and Watervliet.

The sheriff’s department will release more information about the swatting incident when it’s available.