UPDATE: The lockdown has been lifted at the three Nanaimo schools following a threat earlier today. Nanaimo RCMP noted in a social media post that there will be a police presence at the schools for the remainder of the day as a precaution. Read more at this link.
PREVIOUSLY POSTED: Three Nanaimo schools are in lockdown after a threat was made to Dover Bay Secondary School today.
Initially, Dover was put in lockdown, while McGirr Elementary was in a hold-and-secure, but Nanaimo District Secondary School was later placed in hold-and-secure, with all three now in lockdown, out of an abundance of caution, Nanaimo RCMP said in a social media post.
Dale Burgos, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools’ spokesperson, told the News Bulletin he couldn’t get into specifics about the situation.
“A threat was made to the school,” Burgos said. “Police are investigating. The school is in lockdown. That’s not something typical. Lockdown is a more serious emergency procedure. Kids are inside and as a precaution, McGirr is in a hold-and-secure and again doors are locked, nobody in or out.”
According to Burgos, a lockdown is a situation when there is a threat in the immediate vicinity of the school, whether it’s outside the school or inside and a hold-and-secure is more to do with when something is happening near the school, where there is police presence.
In the post, Nanaimo RCMP are also asking parents and caregivers to avoid the area and not call the schools for updates or information. Updates will be made when more information is available.
Nanaimo RCMP did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
More to come.
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