Police on site at 6 schools in Mississauga and Brampton after shooting threats
Published March 8, 2023 at 3:39 pm
Threats of a gunman planning to shoot up half a dozen high schools in Brampton and Mississauga have police and staff on high alert as some parents are considering keeping kids on Friday (March 8).
Peel Regional Police say they were notified of threats circulating on social media last week about a gunman planning to attend secondary schools in Brampton and Mississauga on March 10 to “shoot them up.”
Police now say there will be a noticeable police presence at the targeted schools to reassure parents that the safety of students “is paramount.”
“We understand how concerning this is to the school staff, students, their families, and the community as a whole,” a police spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday.
Investigators say the threats were made against five schools in Brampton and one in Mississauga:
- Holy Name of Mary Secondary School at 115 Glenvale Blvd, Brampton
- Louise Arbour Secondary School at 365 Father Tobin Rd, Brampton
- St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School at 25 Corporation Dr, Brampton
- Notre Dame Secondary School at 2 Notre Dame Ave, Brampton
- Chinguacousy Secondary School at 1370 Williams Pkwy, Brampton,
- Ascension of Our Lord Secondary School at 7640 Anaka Dr, Mississauga
Police say both the Dufferin Peel Catholic District and Peel School Boards are taking the threats seriously and are working with officers on enhanced safety measures and emergency strategies.
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And while police said that any decision to cancel classes would be made by the individual school boards, the decision on whether to send kids to school on Friday will come down to each family.
“We’re not going to tell them to stay at home or not stay at home, that’s up to the parents,” police said, adding that parents should talk to their kids about the threats to see “whether they wish to go and how they feel.”
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said he was “horrified” to learn about the threats and shared the concerns of residents.
“We stand with Chief Nish and the Peel Police who are working diligently to investigate these threats while ensuring the safety of our students,” Brown said in a statement on Twitter.
Investigators did not comment on which social media platform was used to make the threat and said they are taking “all reasonable measures” to ensure the safety of students and track down who made the threats.
Anyone with information about these threats is asked to contact Peel Regional Police at 905-453-2121 ext. 1233. You can also contact Peel Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.
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