Search still on for Ackerman bomb-scare emailer

THE CITY'S Department of Homeland Security is still trying to figure out who sent a bomb threat to the school district over the weekend.

District officials on Sunday said that an email addressed to Superintendent Arlene Ackerman contained a threat to detonate a bomb at lunchtime yesterday. The email included several complaints against the district and was directed toward Ackerman and staff.

On Sunday, four bomb-sniffing dogs and a host of police officers searched district headquarters, near Broad and Spring Garden streets, but found nothing. Nothing turned up on another search yesterday.

Nonetheless, district officials were right to alert authorities, said police spokesman Lt. Raymond Evers.

"To find out who sent an email, it's not CSI," he said. "It takes a long time to get them. There are many ways to cover your tracks."

Authorities hope to find the emailer in a couple of days, he said. The sender could face charges including terroristic threats and risking a catastrophe, and would be responsible for costs incurred for the search.

"There's a decent-size price tag that comes with this, and someone has to pay," he said.

A district spokeswoman said that she couldn't say how long officials expect to maintain heightened security at the central office and additional bodyguards assigned to Ackerman. For the time being, police will patrol periodically around her Center City apartment, Evers said. Meanwhile, district officials urge employees to be aware of their surroundings.