FRIDAY, 7.55AM:
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POLICE say they want to reassure parents there is no risk to school children in Orange and parents should send their children to school as normal on Friday.
"There is no reason why children in Orange should not be sent to school today," said Inspector Gerard Power of Canobolas Local Area Command.
Inspector Powell has issued the statement in a effort to hose down concerns circulating on social media sites regarding reported threats made by a 40-year-old man about Orange school children .
The man is currently undergoing treatment at Orange hospital.
Inspector Powell said police are being inundated with phone calls from concerned parents.
THURSDAY, 5.30PM:
It is unclear whether the threat to children in Orange will remain in the morning.
The Central Western Daily asked police whether the threat had passed or whether parents should be more vigilant when dropping their kids off at school, however police were unable to provide a clear answer.
A statement from a staff member at Orange East Public School said, on the school's Facebook page, if the situation remained unchanged the school was required to keep its gates locked.
An open day planned for the school will go ahead, however the only entrance will be from the Spring Street gate.
"Please be aware that your children will be safe at school throughout the day," the statement said.
Parents have taken to social media to vent their frustration that some schools did not inform them of the potential threat to their children until after school had finished.
In some cases, parents went to pick up children from school and were "terrified" that when they arrived, the gates were locked and no students had come out.
Other parents praised the reactions of schools and day care centres.
THURSDAY, 2.30PM:
POLICE are appealing to the public to help them find a man of Aboriginal or Islander appearance who allegedly made threats to children in Orange.
The police have stepped up patrols in the city.
Several schools in Orange are taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of children their children however police refused to confirm a 'lock down' of schools in Orange is in place.
Principal of Orange Anglican Grammar School Len Elliot said he has spoken to police twice today and been kept informed of progress in the search for the man.
The person of interest is described as being aged in his 40s with an olive complexion and is between 175-177cm tall.
He is of slight build weighing approximately 50-55kg.
"We are appealing to anyone who has seen this man to call Orange Police on 6363 6399 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000," Inspector Dave Harvey said.
Parents from two different schools in Orange have told the Central Western Daily their children were asked to practise lock down procedures at their school yesterday.