Bomb threats called in to Detroit preschools, children evacuated

DETROIT (WJBK) - The Detroit Police Department said that two preschools were evacuated Tuesday morning after receiving similar bomb threats via phone call.

Mt. Zion Head Start on Detroit's east side received the threat just before 11 a.m. Wednesday.

According to Detroit Police, the school was evacuated and the bomb squad is on the scene to investigate.

Mt. Zion Head Start is located near Gratiot and McNichols on the city's east side.

Almost simultaneously, a second church head start program was evacuated due to a bomb threat. Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, just four blocks away on Seymour Street, received a similar threat to its head start program.

Detroit Police said around noon that the threats were determined to not be credible and is part of a 'nationwide copycat' threats. Police said the callers threaten the location with a bomb and demand money 

Mt. Calvary United Children and Family Head Start Program has been evacuated as police investigate.

Police have not determined if the same caller made the threats to the preschools but say that the threats are similar.

Parents are asked to pick up their children from both head start locations at this time.

Another bomb threat came into Woodhaven earlier in the day where a a threat was left on a message service for a salon and spa. Police gave the all-clear just after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, saying no suspicious activity was found.

Police said that all three bomb threats were similar in nature and they believe them all to be related.

WEB UPDATE: The FBI released a statement on the bomb threats:

"We are aware of recent bomb threats and we remain in touch with our law enforcement partners to provide assistance if needed. As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and to promptly reports suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety."

Later in the day, the engineering building at the University of Detroit Mercy was also evacuated for a threat. Police say a one-page fax was received of threatening nature. The all-clear there was given just before 2 p.m.

SKYFOX was on the scene earlier as the head start programs were evacuated. WATCH FOX 2 News Now below for live video of the investigation: