Longueil police have made an arrest in connection with alleged threats that forced a preventative lockdown at a high school in the Saint-Hubert area on Friday.
The suspect — a minor — was located and arrested in the Chambly area.
Police say he is being interviewed by investigators.
The lockdown began Friday afternoon at Heritage Regional High School, after school officials alerted police.
“The school administration contacted us to inform us that they had received threats targeting their students,” the police force said in a statement.
“We therefore immediately proceeded to a confinement of the students and staff.”
In a statement on Facebook, Heritage Regional High School principal Sujata Saja said Longueuil police gave the all clear to release students at 7:05 p.m.
School officials said earlier that the alleged threat originated from someone who is not attending the school.
While police would not confirm the nature of the threats, spokesperson Jean-Pierre Voutsinos said officers wanted to ensure it was safe for students to leave the building before calling off the lockdown.
Suja said police reassured the school that at no point in time was the safety of the children at risk while they were in the building.
“The police needed to lock the access to and from our school while they conducted their investigation,” she said.
School buses were available, as per usual, to take students home once they were allowed out of the building.
Suja said the students will be debriefed next week.
“We know that this caused you and your children great concern,” she said. Please know that support services are available at the school should your child want to speak to someone.”
She also suggested parents or students contact the government health and social help line at 811 or contact L’Acces, a 24-hour crisis centre at 450-679-8689, for immediate assistance.
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