Update 2 p.m. – School District 73 officials have confirmed that Kamloops RCMP have given the all clear after its investigation did not find any threat.
Police say they responded around 11:30 a.m. after the phrase ‘find the bomb’ was painted outside David Thompson Elementary.
“RCMP responded to the area and worked with School District personnel, Kamloops Fire Rescue and BC Ambulance Service to ensure the school was completely evacuated and that all students and staff were outside of an established safety perimeter,” said Sgt. Brandon Buliziuk.
“Due to the close proximity and out of caution, Westsyde Secondary School was also evacuated, while there were several residential properties that required tactical (sudden unplanned) evacuation or displacement of the occupants.”
Buliziuk says the school was searched but nothing was found either inside or outside the school, and the evacuations were rescinded. He notes a similar phrase was painted on Westsyde Secondary School about three days earlier, and it is currently being investigated.
“These responses are taken very seriously and often require a rapid displacement of people from an area, in order to ensure their safety. Our member’s highest priority was the safety of the students, staff, and residents in the area of David Thompson Elementary,” Buliziuk added.
“We are fortunate that this incident was false in the end; however, we are grateful for the smooth inter-agency response and for the cooperation of the community in Westsyde.”
Original – Kamloops Mounties have evacuated two schools in Westsyde because of “suspicious messaging” written on the exterior of David Thompson Elementary.
That school as well as Westsyde Elementary have been cleared out by police, and several homes in the area of Pine Springs Road have also been evacuated.
“Perimeters have been established by RCMP who are holding people a safe distance from the school,” Sgt. Brandon Buliziuk says.
It’s unclear exactly what messaging has been written on the school.
Kamloops RCMP say more information is forthcoming.
Today’s incident comes after three similar incidents in eight days back in September, where threats were graffiti’d on the side of Sa-Hali Secondary (twice) and Valleyview Secondary. An arrest was made after a third school threat.
In that same time frame in September, there was also a threat made on social media against Kamloops Christian School.
