NELSON, B.C. – A male student has been arrested after threats forced the evacuation of a high school in southeastern British Columbia.
Nelson RCMP said they received reports last Thursday about a possible threat to Mount Sentinel Secondary in South Slocan, about 25 kilometres west of Nelson.
Officers arrived at the school to find a student being detained by school officials and took him into custody, police said.
Officials evacuated the school and decided to postpone graduation ceremonies set for the weekend and cancel classes on Monday.
The threat was determined to be very serious and involved an isolated incident, police said, adding the investigation is ongoing.
The student is facing a number of criminal charges and was expected to appear in provincial court in Castlegar on Monday.
In an update posted to the school district’s website Sunday, Mount Sentinel vice-principal Shellie Maloff said the RCMP, the Ministry of Children and Family Development and the school district’s Violent Threat Assessment Team are investigating.
The post urges parents and students to “continue to be vigilant” if attending any grad activities, parties or events where students might congregate.
School officials hope Mount Sentinel can reopen Tuesday.