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Newtown church forced to evacuate after death threat
A Newtown church packed with Connecticut school rampage mourners was forced into a panicked evacuation this afternoon after a cruel sicko called in a death threat, cops said.
More than 400 already shattered attendees were abruptly ordered to empty St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown after state police told Monsignor Robert Weiss of the threats at roughly 12:30 p.m. this afternoon.
"Someone called and threatened the church. State police said we needed to evacuate everyone," Weiss told The Post.
Grieving kids and their jumpy parents kept calm during the 5-minute evacuation but some children began crying and asking for comfort from their shaken moms and dads.
A SWAT team prepares to enter St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, Connecticut today.
Meanwhile, some 30 kids who were practicing for their annual Christmas pageant in a nearby building on church grounds were also ordered to leave the premises. The entire facility was later cordoned off as state cops began a sweep of the area.
This morning, authorities warned that people posing as killer Adam Lanza were posting threatening messages on Facebook and Twitter.
- By JULIA MARSH and SELIM ALGAR
- Last Updated: 1:10 PM, December 16, 2012
- Posted: 12:59 PM, December 16, 2012
A Newtown church packed with Connecticut school rampage mourners was forced into a panicked evacuation this afternoon after a cruel sicko called in a death threat, cops said.
More than 400 already shattered attendees were abruptly ordered to empty St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown after state police told Monsignor Robert Weiss of the threats at roughly 12:30 p.m. this afternoon.
"Someone called and threatened the church. State police said we needed to evacuate everyone," Weiss told The Post.
Grieving kids and their jumpy parents kept calm during the 5-minute evacuation but some children began crying and asking for comfort from their shaken moms and dads.
A SWAT team prepares to enter St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, Connecticut today.
Meanwhile, some 30 kids who were practicing for their annual Christmas pageant in a nearby building on church grounds were also ordered to leave the premises. The entire facility was later cordoned off as state cops began a sweep of the area.
This morning, authorities warned that people posing as killer Adam Lanza were posting threatening messages on Facebook and Twitter.