Several schools in Fredericton, Moncton shut down due to emailed bomb threat

At least seven New Brunswick schools were shut down Tuesday as police investigated threats against the schools in Fredericton and Moncton.

The schools were later deemed safe, and Fredericton Police Force said a youth has been arrested as part of the investigation.

The Anglophone West School District said that Fredericton High School, George Street Middle School, Nashwaaksis Middle School, Barker’s Point Elementary School, Assiniboine Avenue Elementary School and Leo Hayes High School were affected.

The school district’s superintendent, David McTimoney, said the threat came in an email that was addressed “to a number of different schools” that referenced “bombs surrounding the school(s).”

“We received a series of threats … a single threat I should say, made to a series of schools. One that certainly captured our attention and required a response. It happened about 7 o’clock this morning, that’s when it was brought to my attention,” he said.

“Our process when it comes to assessing a threat such as this, keeping in mind as well, student safety. Difficult decisions to make when you balance all of those things out but in this particular case, we feel that we’ve made the right choice in closing school today.”

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Fredericton Police Force asked students and families to stay away from the schools while they investigated. Families were also asked not to call emergency lines to keep them open for urgent matters, and to check official social media pages instead.

“All affected schools have been evacuated for those who arrived early, and any buses that were en route have been redirected to designated evacuation locations,” police said in a statement.

Arnold H. MacLeod School in Moncton was also closed because of the “receipt of a concerning message this morning,” Anglophone East School District superintendent Randolph J. MacLean wrote in an email to parents.

Students at that school were brought to the evacuation site at a nearby church for pickup.

By 10:40 a.m., Fredericton police said all schools had been “cleared and deemed safe” and there was “no current threat to public safety.” In a 3 p.m. update, police said a youth has been arrested.

“Further investigation determined that threats made to schools outside Fredericton’s jurisdiction were also traced back to the same individual,” police noted.

All the schools in Fredericton remained closed for the rest of the day but McTimoney said the ones in his district will re-open Wednesday.

“We’ve been in communication with police throughout the morning,” said McTimoney.

“We know that they have taken it very seriously and that they’re investigating. We’re very fortunate to have that good cooperation with the Fredericton city police here within the city and we anticipate that we’ll hear more from them as the investigation continues.”