Halifax-area school put on lockdown after student sprays sensory irritant inside: police

A high school in the Halifax region was put on lockdown Friday morning after an irritant was said to be sprayed inside the school lobby.

According to a recent update from RCMP, it was said that officers arrested three youths involved in the incident at Bay View High School in Upper Tantallon.

“RCMP officers learned that two youths had assaulted another youth outside of the school,” police said, adding that a third individual “deployed an irritant” as the altercation moved indoors.

The three students and two school employees suffered minor injuries and were treated by EHS staff at the scene, police say.

No serious injuries have been reported.

“Additional individuals, present in the lobby at the time of the incident, may have experienced minor symptoms consistent with cross contamination of an airborne irritant,” police added.

The Halifax Regional Centre for Education initially confirmed that the school was on lockdown in a social media post. The situation changed to “hold and secure” status before being lifted around 12:00 p.m.

Gabe Anthony, a student at the school, said he was returning from a free period with his friends when he witnessed the aftermath of the incident.

“The principal walked out, his eyes were all red and puffy and they carried somebody out with handcuffs on,” he said.

“We walked near the doors and our eyes were watering.”

Police said the incident was “targeted in nature.”

Two of the boys face an assault charge and the other youth involved faces an assault with a weapon offence.

The teens have since been released on conditions and are scheduled to appear in Halifax Youth Justice Court on December 21.