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One student arrested for bomb threat at Farragut High School

The Knox County Sheriff's Office believes an 11-year-old was responsible for a bomb threat earlier this week at Hardin Valley Elementary School. As of Wednesday afternoon, the child hadn't been arrested.

On Tuesday, the Knox County Sheriff's Office arrested a teen student from Farragut High School after he allegedly made a bomb threat at the school Tuesday morning.

The school was placed on lockdown while KCSO investigators searched the school and interviewed students and staff after finding the threat on the wall in the boys' bathroom.

The unidentified 16-year-old is charged with vandalism and making a bomb threat.

Officials have placed Farragut on lockdown four times so far in 2016 - three times in March and once in February.

Authorities expect there could be more arrests connected to the recent bomb threats at Farragut High School.

Update on Tuesday afternoon: Law enforcement officers lifted a lockdown on Farragut High School just after 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Knox County Schools public affairs director Melissa Tindell said the school district is in the process of updating parents through its automated notification system.

Original Story on Tuesday morning: Farragut High School was locked down Tuesday morning and the building was evacuated after "another potential threat" was discovered at the school, according to a Knox County Schools spokesperson.

As a precaution, law enforcement suggested evacuating the school in order to conduct a thorough search of the buildings. Students were taken to the school's stadium.

"We believe this is a poor attempt from a student or group of students who aim to disrupt instruction at our school," said KCS spokeswoman Melissa Tindell.

The school is investigating recent threats with law enforcement and will discipline students caught making threats to the greatest extent allowed under School Board police and prosecuted to the greatest extent allowed under the law, according to Tindell.

Last week, school leaders placed Farragut on lockdown after finding a potential threat written on a bathroom wall in the school.

Officials have placed Farragut on lockdown four times so far in 2016 - three times in March and once in February.

RELATED: Knox BOE member to hold meeting after school bomb threats

In response, Knox County Board of Education member Karen Carson is holding a meeting on Thursday evening to address bomb threats like the ones at Farragut and the one that closed Hardin Valley Academy last week.

A 16-year-old student has since been charged with making the Hardin Valley threat.

The meeting will be Thursday at the Farragut High School library from 6-7 p.m.

Anyone with information about the threats should contact law enforcement or the Knox County Schools Security Department at 865-594-3624.

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