Police Investigate False Threats to Local Schools

Authorities are currently looking into threatening calls made to three schools in the Waterloo region as swatting incidents.

This follows a situation where three schools in Kitchener, Wilmot, and North Dumfries were placed on hold and secure orders Tuesday morning due to separate threatening phone calls.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) indicated that these calls were false reports “made to trigger an emergency police response.”

Police have also shared further details about the calls.

“Between 9 a. m. and 9:10 a. m., three schools in Kitchener, Wilmot, and North Dumfries received a telephone call from an unidentified individual. During each call, the caller stated they were enroute to the school with weapons and issued threats to harm staff and students,” WRPS said.

Officers responded and ensured each school was safe.

Hold and secure

In a post on X Tuesday morning, WRPS mentioned that there was an increased police presence around Alpine Public School in Kitchener, Ayr Public School in North Dumfries, and Baden Public School in Wilmot Township.

“We received reports that an individual called into the schools threatening acts of violence,” said WRPS spokesperson Cherri Greeno. “They are similar in nature, came in around the same time and detectives are currently investigating.”

A statement from the Waterloo Region District School Board noted that the “concern is outside of the school building and many school routines remain in place,” while access to and from schools was restricted as a safety measure.

The school board urged parents, families, and caregivers of students not to call or come to the school during a hold and secure since “staff’s main priority is to keep students safe.”

The WRPS General Investigations Unit is actively pursuing its investigation.

If anyone has information related to this case, they are encouraged to reach out to police or Crime Stoppers.

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