Multiple local schools spent the morning sheltering in place after threats were launched against four Abbotsford facilities on Monday (April 20).
Abbotsford Police Department said school officials reported receiving a threatening email shortly after 9 a.m., forcing Abbotsford Senior Secondary, W.J. Mouat Secondary, Abbotsford Middle School, and Chief Dan George Middle School to be placed under a shelter-in-place order.
APD media relations officer Sgt. Paul Walker said officers responded to all four sites, but found no active threats. The temporary lockdown situations were then lifted, but police remained in the vicinity of the schools as a precaution.
“The criminal investigation is ongoing to identify the person or persons responsible for today’s threats,” said Walker.
“Currently, today’s investigation appears to be that of a swatting incident.”
This threatening email comes only a few days after multiple Abbotsford schools were set on fire in the middle of the night.
The most recent of these arson incidents occurred on April 17 at Godson Elementary, marking the third Abbotsford school to be set ablaze in less than a week.