Authorities in Durham Region have connected a number of threats that have disturbed a Pickering elementary school recently to an online international network of “predators”.
The Durham Regional Police Service is looking into a group called “The Com,” short for “The Community,” after responding to four incidents at William Dunbar Elementary School since January that are thought to be associated with the group.
The most recent incident occurred on Jan. 27, leading to the school being placed on lockdown and then a hold and secure situation.
Durham Regional police Chief Peter Moreira stated that the group is known for pressuring victims into risky or harmful actions, like sharing inappropriate images or self-harm or harming others.
“These groups use grooming, manipulation, intimidation, and coercion to exploit youth, which can lead to violent and/or criminal behaviour,” Moreira noted in a joint letter sent to parents from DRPS and the Durham District School Board (DDSB) on Tuesday. The letter shared some initial findings of the investigation and was provided to by the DDSB on Friday.
This letter came out just after some parents held a rally at William Dunbar Elementary urging for better communication about these incidents and for stronger safety measures at the school, which the DDSB promised to enhance in upcoming weeks.
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Targeting kids as young as 8: police
According to Durham police Const. Nicholas Gluckstein, there’s no evidence linking this group with threats made at other schools in Durham Region. Gluckstein described “The Com” as a growing network of online predators who target children as young as eight years old without any clear “specific” objective. He mentioned that the group has been involved in money laundering and cryptocurrency thefts before but added it’s hard to “narrow down” their focus since many members stay anonymous. “Sometimes when they use youth to complete these tasks, like 911 hoaxes, it’s a distraction to complete something else that was their intended target,” he explained. Gluckstein said they typically operate on various social media platforms or online gaming sites like Discord and Minecraft, pretending to befriend children or feigning romantic interest as a way of gaining trust. While it’s unclear how many members are part of this group, Gluckstein pointed out that its “growing prevalence” has also raised alarms from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States. “It’s an extremely dangerous group; they are very tech-savvy,” Gluckstein warned. Watch for changes in children’s behavior; parents alerted Gluckstein wasn’t sure if other police departments across Canada are looking into this organization too. He advised parents should keep an eye on their children for signs like withdrawal, secrecy, mood swings, or slipping grades. The police also recommend that parents monitor their kids’ online activities and talk about the dangers related to sharing personal information, photos, and videos online. A spokesperson from DDSB Galen Eagle stated that they plan on hosting cybersecurity presentations alongside DRPS at William Dunbar Public School next week. Eagle mentioned that mental health resources will also be available for students and families during this time. If parents think their children might be targeted by this group, authorities advise saving all communications and contacting investigators right away.Source link
