TORONTO – A lockdown has been lifted at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont. after an online threat was made targeting the campus’ science building on Friday.
“You have to put the safety of the students and faculty at the forefront of what you’re doing,” said Superintendent Pat Deitrich of the Waterloo Regional Police Service during a press conference Friday morning.
“There was some things we wanted to complete, to agree with the university to open the facility.”
The university was placed on lockdown at 6 a.m. ET with all buildings, including residence, closed and classes cancelled. The lockdown was lifted shortly before noon.
“We felt it was prudent that a lockdown was necessary,” said Supt. Deitrich.
Students, staff and faculty were also advised to stay away from the Waterloo campus. It is currently fall-term reading week between Oct. 13-16.
“The university’s Special Constable Service received a tip from Crime Stoppers indicating a threat to the university,” said a notice posted on the school’s website.
A spokesperson for the university said the threat was directed at the campus’ science building and police deemed it as credible and serious enough to enact the school’s emergency response system.
“It was a very generalized threat,” Wilfrid Laurier public affairs director Kevin Crowley told Global News.
Police said they are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the RCMP to locate the source of the threat which was linked to a 4chan discussion forum.
“The verbiage used on the 4chan website was similar verbiage used prior to a tragic incident in the States,” said Supt. Deitrich. “There’s indication the poster was not local.”
Meanwhile, University of Waterloo, which is located several blocks west of Wilfrid Laurier, remained open and officials said there was no evidence of a threat at their campus.
According to university procedures, a lockdown is put in place “when it is unsafe to evacuate a room or building immediately because you may encounter danger.”
Wilfrid Laurier said on its website it notifies students, staff and faculty of potential threats to the school by way of email, through the university’s website, bull horns used by special constables and the public address system.
University lockdown procedures include the following:
- Moving to the nearest room you feel is safe with as many people as possible
- Locking and barricading the door
- Turning off the lights or maintaining minimal lighting
- Closing all windows and blinds.
- Lie flat on the floor or take adequate cover out of sight, keep back from windows and doors.
- Turn off cell phones unless you need to report injured people.
- Stay in the room until police arrive and before you can be safely evacuated.
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