Five more area schools placed on lockdown following threats
After Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 saw three Kingston schools placed on lock down following threats made over the phone, the threats have continued today.
Five schools in the area were placed on lock down today after receiving threats similar to those made towards local schools yesterday.
Kingston Police responded to threats made to École secondaire catholique Marie-Rivier just after 10:15 am. on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018. That school was originally placed on lock down, but has now moved into a hold and secure after police searched the building and deemed it safe.
Police then responded to threats directed at LCVI high school just before 11:30 a.m. LCVI has since been assessed for threat, and deemed safe by Kingston Police.
Following the threats made to those schools, another threat was directed at a high school, this time outside of Kingston. Rideau District High School in Elgin was placed on lock down just after noon, having receiving similar threats.
At 1 p.m., Kingston Police held a press conference to address the situation. Kingston Police Media Relations Officer Cam Mack stated that all 5 threats to schools received over the past 2 days have been thoroughly investigated and found to be not credible. Nonetheless, police are bound by an obligation to respond to and investigate each threat, Mack explained. Police then asked that parents/guardians whose children are affected by a school lockdown not call their children’s cell phones, as the ring, buzz or sound of conversation could serve to identify a child’s location in a real threat situation.
The threats continued throughout the day, next at KCVI just after 2 p.m. That school was placed on lockdown, but has since been cleared. Then, just after 2:30 p.m., threats were made towards Holy Name Catholic School, which was also placed on lockdown.
Kingston Police have asked the public to refrain from interacting with any possible suspects online.
The following is a message from Kingston Police from this morning:
Kingston police are actively investigating the threats made yesterday and today to some of our local schools. The threats have been similar in nature and no actual threat has been found at any school at this time.
Protocols for police and school response to these types of threats have been established for the safety of all students and staff in mind. Police will continue to work collaboratively with schools boards to ensure the continued safety of our schools.
Students and staff are reminded not to use electronic devices during a lockdown unless they have critical information for the police or emergency services (911 purposes).
Kingstonist will continue to update with new information as it becomes available.
