Update 2 –
Kamloops RCMP have arrested an 18-year-old Kamloops man after an unfounded bomb threat was made at Sa-Hali Secondary today.
Staff Sgt. Ed Preto says the teen is being held in custody, pending a court appearance tomorrow, September 21.
The threat today was the second such threat against the school in three days, and sixth against a local school since last Wednesday.
Today’s arrest comes after a youth was arrested yesterday in connection to a specific threat posted on Snapchat yesterday – where someone was seen holding two pistols with a threatening caption.
At this time, police haven’t said if the some or any of the incidents are linked, but Preto says there could be more information next week.
Update –
All weekend activities at Sa-Hali Secondary School have been cancelled after a second threat was made against the school in three days.
The RCMP will be investigating the threats and the activities are being rescheduled so that it doesn’t impede with the investigation.
School Board Chair Kathleen Karpuk says parents were notified about a threatening call this morning.
“These incidents are very disruptive to schools,” she said. “They are disruptive to our students and that we ask anybody in the community that knows anything about these to please pass that information on to the RCMP as soon as they can.”
School officials say the threat was not credible, and things were back to normal by this afternoon, with nothing to indicate there was any danger to students or staff at any time.
“It is critically important for parents to stress to their children the consequences of these inappropriate actions regarding such matters in any and all school settings,” a notice on the school website read.
Meanwhile, classes were not disrupted at Dallas Elementary this morning after yet another graffiti threat made towards a Kamloops school.
SD73 assistant superintendent Rob Schoen says a teacher noticed the graffiti that said “there is a bomb” on the side of the building facing the parking lot this morning.
It’s the third time in eight days that a local has been tagged with similar graffiti and Schoen says the RCMP were notified.
“And they found that there was nothing to be worried about,” Schoen said. “So in as much as students weren’t let in the building immediately, they mustered on the playground with the vice principal and staff as they arrived. School started at the regular time, the bell went at 8:25 a.m., students came in and it’s business as usual.”
He is assuring parents that there is nothing to be worried about today.
“I mean I give credit to the staff and the RCMP. I mean, out of an abundance of caution when there’s any threats made, we take them seriously and follow up so people can rest at ease knowing that Dallas Elementary everything is safe and it’s all systems go.”
Schoen adds it’s important that parents speak to the children about the inappropriateness of making these kinds of threats.
“We hope that parents of all school age children you know will take time to have conversations with them about how serious it is to make social media posts or tag, and you know, just kind of remind that if they know anything to contact the RCMP so we can bring these things to closure.”
Sa-Hali Secondary was threatened by a Snapchat last Wednesday and yesterday by some graffiti, a bomb threat was painted on Valleyview Secondary last Friday, and Kamloops Christian School was closed yesterday after someone made a threatening post on Snapchat.
Multiple people have told Radio NL News of a police presence at Dallas Elementary this morning.
We’re told students and staff are gathering in the soccer fields and people aren’t being allowed in the building.
Details are still sparse but SD73 officials have told NL News that there is an incident, and that more details will follow.
We’ve also reached out to Kamloops RCMP for comment.
More to come.
