Halifax police charge 2 more teens over recent school bomb threats

Halifax Regional Police have arrested two more youths, both 13, in connection with bomb threats made toward junior high schools in the area.

Police charged one of the youths on Friday in relation to bomb threats made at Rocky Lake Junior High School in Bedford, N.S., on May 3. The other youth was charged over a bomb threats made against Fairview Junior High School in Halifax on May 1.

Both teens are scheduled to appear in Halifax Youth Justice Court at a later date to face charges of mischief and uttering threats.

The latest arrests come on the heels of arrests last week related to J.L. Ilsey High School, where two other teens — ages 15 and 16 — were charged in relation to a bomb-threat case.  Those teens are also scheduled to appear at Halifax Youth Justice Court at a later date to face charges of mischief and uttering threats.

“So far at this point, all these recent incidents have been information that has been written on school property,” Const. John MacLeod told CBC News in an interview on Monday.

In a news release, Halifax Regional Police said since April 1, they’ve received 25 separate reports of messages being left in schools throughout the Halifax area “referring to explosive devices in buildings.”

More charges possible

Every time a report comes in, police say they end up going to the schools to investigate. They said every time they’ve gone to a school, they were “unable to locate any safety concerns.”

“When we get one of these, it is important that we do take them seriously,” MacLeod said. “You know, we are going to go and we are going to investigate each and every one of them.”

The bomb threats have caused a lot of stress and grief, he said.

“They are a criminal event. We are treating them as such,” MacLeod said. “We are going to continue to investigate and we do anticipate future charges.”

Anyone with information on the threats can share it with police directly at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be shared through Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).