York Regional Police say a video posted online which appears to show a teen “holding what appeared to be a firearm” and threatening the safety of students prompted a hold and secure at two Aurora, Ont., schools on Monday.
A YRP spokesperson told Global News the threat was made in a video posted to social media and two arrests have been made. Investigators became aware of the video at around 10:45 a.m. on Monday.
The spokesperson could not confirm if those arrested are students but a did say they are teenagers.
“Investigators determined that the youths were in possession of replica firearms,” police said in a news release.
Due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the two cannot be identified due to their ages. Police also said they would not release the video.
York Region District School Board said it was alerted to a social media post and two schools — Aurora HS and Wellington PS — were place in a hold and secure as a precaution.
The two schools are in close proximity, around 700 metres apart.
The board would not reveal if those arrested were students.
In an interview with Global News, YRP Const. Laura Nicolle said these types of incidents are “very, very serious.”
“(It’s) something that there’s no tolerance for. In the day we’re in now, people deserve to feel safe,” Nicolle said “And it’s something that we’re going to take very, very seriously.”
According to Nicolle, the investigation is ongoing.
“The charges haven’t been officially laid, but I do expect these to be some very serious charges that are involved,” she said.
According to Nicolle, the teens are 14 and 15 years old and both are male.
“They are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, but again, I do expect very serious charges to be laid in this case,” Nicolle said. “And it’s certainly a reminder to parents to be aware of what your teens are doing when they’re on social media and the fact that they need to understand the severity of their actions in some cases.”
Nicolle said the two schools that were put into a hold and secure as a precaution were “in the area of where the video was taken, and where one of the teens resides.”
Nicolle said it “doesn’t sound like” the person who allegedly made the threat attends either school.
The hold and secure was lifted at around 11:40 a.m. on Monday.
— with files from Global News’ Caryn Lieberman and Hannah Jackson