'All clear' after bomb threat at elementary school in Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. (WABC) -- The all clear has been given after a bomb threat at an elementary school in Middletown.

It may have looked like the end of the school day, but it was actually the sight of parents pulling their kids out of Maple Hill Elementary School before Noon.

It was an unscheduled early dismissal after the fourth bomb threat this year, the third just this month.

It is a recurring hoax that once again drew scores of nervous parents to the school.

"It's very concerning, I have to leave work, my wife leaves work, we lose money, it's very frustrating," said Sule Lee, a parent.

"Every time it happens it just raises a lot of questions, like 'why is it happening? And why are people doing that?'" said Juan Jaquez, a parent.

School officials say a male caller phoned in a bomb threat Tuesday morning, putting the school into lockdown.

Heavily armed local and state police responded, sweeping the building and giving the all clear.

Administrators say there was never any danger, but that's little consolation to concerned students and parents.

"If something's not done its going to go on and on and on, and parents are just grieving to get an answer of who's doing this," said Betty Ann Riker, a grandparent.