Police investigating online threat against 6 Brampton schools

Peel police have launched an investigation after becoming aware of a post circulating on social media which made threatening remarks against six Brampton schools.

Police say that they were first made aware of the post on Monday and immediately commenced a criminal investigation “to verify the threat and to identify those responsible.”

Police say that they have also been working with both the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin Peel Catholic School Board “to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and staff.”

“There will be increased security measures put in place in consultation with both school boards as the safety of our students and school staff is paramount,” police said in a statement. “Our investigation remains active as we take such threats very seriously.”

Police have not commented on the nature of post, only saying that it contained “threatening remarks” against the named schools.

Spokespersons for both the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin Peel Catholic School Board did, however, confirm that the threat was related to Thursday.

The spokespersons said that a number of security measures will be in place at the impacted schools on Thursday, including hold-and-secure protocols and additional security on site to monitor entrances and exits.

“The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is our top priority. We take all potential threats seriously, enacting board protocols and procedures to ensure the safety of PDSB staff and students as local authorities investigate each matter thoroughly and advise as to the validity of any threats,” Peel District School Board spokesperson Malon Edwards wrote.

“DPCDSB takes potential threats very seriously, and every effort is made to maintain the safety and well-being of students and staff,” Dufferin Peel Catholic School Board spokesperson Bruce Campbell added. “Parents/Guardians and students have been reminded that threats have serious consequences and that anyone who makes a threat against a school could face criminal charges. If a student is involved in making a threat, the school and school board will respond as outlined in the Catholic Code of Conduct.”

The schools named in the post include North Park Secondary School, Holy Name of Mary Catholic Secondary School, Louise Arbour Secondary School, St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Bramalea Secondary School and Notre Dame Secondary School, according to police.

Four of those schools, it should be noted, were also named in a social media post last March which warned of shootings at six Peel Region schools. Police have not said whether there could be any connection between those threats and this latest investigation.