Toronto police say they have arrested a 17-year-old boy who they believe was planning an attack on a school on the anniversary of the Ecole Polytechnique massacre.
Police say the threat was made against Oakwood Collegiate Institute in Toronto.
They say that some sort of attack was planned for Dec. 6, 2016, the 27th anniversary of the massacre at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal that left 14 women dead.
Toronto police Det. Len Nicholson told CP24 a tipster calling from the western United States warned of a threat posted on a blog on Dec. 1.
He said the threat specifically cited the public high school and made specific reference to the massacre.
Police were able to trace the threat to a Toronto District School Board computer and review of login information allowed police to identify the suspect.
They seized a number of items including a machete, a hatchet, two swords, four knives, and arrows (for a bow-and-arrow set) after executing a search warrant at the boy’s home.
Computer equipment was also seized, along with clothing investigators believe the suspect was planning to use to carry and conceal various weapons.
The boy has been charged with uttering threats of bodily harm and uttering death threats.
He appeared in court on Tuesday, police said, and cannot be identified due to his age.
Police could not say whether the suspect was a student of Oakwood Collegiate, but Toronto District School Board spokesperson Ryan Bird told CTV Toronto the suspect is a current student of the board. He would not elaborate further.
“Obviously it’s concerning if we hear anything remotely like this, but the important thing is, the system worked,” Bird said.
Counselling will be made available for students at the high school.
With files from CTV Toronto and CTVNews.ca
