MULTIPLE OHIO schools received threatening emails over the weekend from sources that claimed to be Russian hackers.

The emails stated that explosives had been placed in school buildings across America.

Bridgeport schools and Powhatan Point Elementary both received threatening emails on Sunday.

A release from the FBI states, “While we have no information to indicate a specific and credible threat, we will continue to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to gather, share and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention. We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any and all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately.”

State officials from the Ohio School Safety Center, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the FBI have been looking into the threats.

Bridgeport Superintendent Brent Ripley said that as of Monday morning, the email had been deemed “noncredible” by the Department of Homeland Security.

“I don’t know why anyone would do this, but the school still has to operate, and if it was a credible threat, we would be told by the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department,” Ripley said.

He said he has been working closely with Lt. Glenn Moore and Chief Deputy James Zusack of the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office as well as Bridgeport Police Chief John Bumba to keep the students and staff at Bridgeport schools safe.

Ripley said the school building was checked thoroughly for explosives.

“When we have a situation like this, the building is checked by our maintenance staff. Our teachers and staff check rooms. They know if something’s out of place or something’s not out of place,” he explained.

Ripley said that all went well during school on Monday.

“We’re running on normal. …The students are safe and with their teachers, and we’re just happy to have them here,” he said.

Rob Caldwell, principal of Powhatan Elementary School, said he received the email around 1:30 p.m. Sunday. He said he noticed right away that other schools had received the same email.

“I did notice there were 56 other recipients on that email list. I didn’t recognize anybody on that list, but it didn’t go out to me and me only. It went out to multiple buildings,” he said.

Caldwell said he is aware of schools in the Columbus area that also received the same email.

He said he forwarded the message to Phil Ackerman, superintendent of the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District. Caldwell said he then contacted the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office.

He said that local, state and federal officials investigated the emails and responded quickly to the incident.

“After a few hours, it was pretty much taken care of,” Caldwell said.

Ackerman could not be reached for comment.

Zusack said that the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office worked closely with Homeland Security and looked into the threats.

Officials do not know who sent the emails.

Any suspicious activity should be reported to local law enforcement or the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office at 740-695-7933.