Police say they’ve arrested a juvenile who admitted to posting threats to St. Paul schools on social media, prompting two charter schools to close on Thursday.

The post began circulating on Wednesday and indicated someone was going to commit a shooting at over 20 different St. Paul schools.

The St. Paul Police Department on Thursday said the threat had no credibility, and the juvenile who was taken into custody “did not have the means or desire to carry out the threat.”

Police said similar messages have been circulating online targeting other school districts across the country.

“We are aware of the threats. Unfortunately, these types of messages have been showing up around the country today and just this evening the focus has turned towards schools here locally,” the police department told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. “Our investigators have been working with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Saint Paul School security. We do not believe these threats are credible at this time.”

While law enforcement said the threats don’t have merit, two schools, Hope Community Academy and Community School of Excellence, have decided to close their doors on Thursday.

A third school, Hmong Prep Academy, will be open but will have an increased police presence.

The St. Public Schools also addressed the threats, reiterating what the St. Paul Police Department had said: that the police posts had no credible threat to any school in their district.

They did give parents and students a warning that sharing or making threats on social media had real-life consequences.

“Sharing inappropriate content or threats on social media can have real-life consequences, including suspension and criminal charges,” St. Paul Public Schools wrote in a statement. “We take situations like this seriously and will follow our standard discipline procedures. Please remind your child to use social media responsibly. Please talk to your student and help us send a message about respecting their school, their teachers and all staff members and classmates.”

St. Paul Public Schools said students are often aware of similar situations before adults are and ask that parents tell their children to speak with a trusted adult when they hear similar threats. Concerns relating to St. Paul Public Schools can also be submitted through the district’s tipline.

Additionally, in an email to families, ISD 197 said Heritage Middle School in West St. Paul was one of the schools named in the threat. The email said the school will stay open with police on site.

District 622 said that Weaver Elementary in Maplewood was also included in the threat and will also see a police presence out of an abundance of caution.