Several area schools have been place in a soft lockdown in response to a "vague threat" reportedly aimed at Senator Susan Collins.

A spokesperson for Collins said a threat was made Friday morning that named 12 area high schools.The information was immediately relayed by the senator's staff to Capitol Police, which notified the FBI and state and local law enforcement. The nature of the threat has not been made public.

According to NewsCenter Maine, some of the schools that were named in the incident include Bangor, Brewer, East Millinocket, Caribou, Madawaska, Johnesport-Beals, Machias and Narraguagus. A note sent to parents of Bangor students stated that the school was put on "soft lockdown," meaning that the students are free to move about inside the school, but that no one is allowed to move in or out. Bangor Police were at the school offering protection.

At 1:20 p.m., Bangor school officials said they had not received any additional information from State Police, and students would be dismissed at the regular time.

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Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland said the threat originally was sent to a Maine business, which notified State Police. That information was sent to all Maine law enforcement agencies and superintendents of schools. The State Police Computer Crimes unit is involved in the investigation, as police try to determine who sent the message.

We'll update this story as more details become available. 

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