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Lockdowns end at Quebec schools targeted by online threats

Click to play video: '2 English schools in Quebec locked down following online threats'
2 English schools in Quebec locked down following online threats
WATCH: Two English Schools – Heritage Regional High School in Saint-Hubert and Quebec High School in Quebec City – were both under lockdown Friday after being targeted by online threats. As Global's Raquel Fletcher reports, the incidents were unrelated and both were resolved peacefully – Feb 15, 2019

Lockdowns at two English-language Quebec schools have ended following threats that were made online.

Friday, Longueuil police were called to Heritage Regional High School in Saint-Hubert, in Montreal’s south shore.

After investigating, officers confirmed the 1,600 students and 200 staff were safe.

READ MORE: Quebec City man who called police officer ‘douchebag’ ordered to pay $150 fine

Police arrested a 25-year-old man at his residence in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu at around 1:15 p.m., and the lockdown was progressively lifted shortly thereafter.

Longueuil police spokesperson Ghislain Vallières confirmed the man was a former student of the school.

He was expected to meet with investigators Friday afternoon.

Vallières was unable to confirm what, if any, charges he could face.

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He did however explain that the man had used his Facebook page to write a threatening post which was then sent to the school.

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The lockdown at Quebec High School, an English-language school in Quebec City, was also lifted Friday afternoon.

This comes after Quebec City police responded to an online threat involving the school at 10 a.m.

The force’s spokesperson, Melanie Jobin, said the 350 students continued going to their classes according to their schedules, but the doors were locked and they were not allowed to leave.

“We’re taking no chances. They are all safe. There is no reason to believe that anyone has been hurt,” she said.

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The school said it notified parents of the situation, advising them not to come to the school.

READ MORE: Quebec City police investigate after toddlers found locked alone in apartment

Isabelle Tremblay, mother of two students, told Global News she tried to pick up her children, but was not able to.

“I’m waiting for them to come out and then I’m taking them home,” she said.

“You always think the worst in these situations, you just want them to come home.”

A minor has been arrested in connection with the Quebec High School lockdown.

The incidents at the two high schools were not linked.

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