Bridgewater teen to remain in custody after threats to schools in N.S. and Manitoba

A 15-year-old facing charges over threats to schools in Nova Scotia and Manitoba will remain in custody for at least another month.

The teenager from Bridgewater, N.S., and a 14-year-old from Rivers, Man., were arrested last week with police alleging the two accused had talked online about simultaneously attacking schools in both provinces.

Their arrest comes a few weeks after the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., where on Feb. 10, an 18-year-old girl shot and killed her mother and half-brother at home before gunning down five students and a teacher’s aide at a school. But while police allege the pair from Nova Scotia and Manitoba began talking online at the end of February, investigators say there’s no indication their alleged plans were spurred by the Tumbler Ridge killings.

In Bridgewater youth court Monday morning, the teen appeared for a bail hearing on charges that include conspiracy to commit murder and uttering threats. The case was adjourned until next month for the preparation of a Gladue report, which is a document that describes the unique or systemic background factors involving an Indigenous offender.

Crown attorney Shawna MacDonald said additional charges may still be laid. “I have been told that the matter is still under investigation,” she told reporters outside the courtroom Monday.

Get breaking National news

Get breaking Canada news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you won't miss a trending story.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Get Started

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“The police are still collecting information, so things could change, with respect to charges, depending on what is located by police.”

Officers received information last week from Interpol and the FBI that two people had been talking online about their desire to attack their local schools. The alleged target in Manitoba was Rivers Collegiate, a Grade 7-12 school about 250 kilometres west of Winnipeg. Its website says it has about 140 students. The other alleged target was the Grade 10-12 Park View Education Centre in Bridgewater, with about 880 students and located roughly 80 km southwest of Halifax.

Last week in Manitoba, RCMP officers pulled over a school bus and arrested the 14-year-old, who was unarmed. Mounties seized electronic devices from the teen and from the teen’s home, as well as two firearms owned by a relative.

The firearms were seized because of the nature of the threats, police said. They wouldn’t say if the firearms were registered.

The Manitoba teenager is charged with uttering threats and scheduled to appear in court in Brandon, Man., next month.

On Tuesday police said they searched a home in Bridgewater and found handwritten plans, imitation weapons, a roughly made imitation pipe bomb and assault rifle, and clothing with hate symbols.

The Crown is opposing bail for the accused in Bridgewater, a town of about 9,000 that is the regional centre for the largely rural area around it.