City of Winnipeg

12/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/17/2024 13:15

School Threats – Investigations

Released: December 17, 2024 at 1 p.m.

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Between December 15 and 17, 2024, the Winnipeg Police Service has responded to three incidents involving online threats made to schools:

  1. Bomb Threat to Oak Park High School
  2. Bomb Threat to Elmwood High School
  3. Threatening Social Media Post to Elmwood High School

Although the threats are similar in nature, the bomb threats are unrelated to the latter threatening social media post.

C24-293181 - Bomb Threats

On Sunday December 15, 2024, at approximately 10:30 p.m, email threats were made to Oak Park High School and Elmwood High School (while the school was closed and unoccupied on the weekend). Both email threats indicated that harm would come to the schools the following school day (Monday the 16th).

On Monday, December 16, 2024, the Winnipeg Police Service met with administration from the Pembina Trails School Division (Oak Park) and Winnipeg School Division (Elmwood). Although no physical threats were discovered at either school, they both stayed closed on Monday as police continued to investigate.

The Major Crimes Unit, with the assistance of other law enforcement agencies determined these threats were sent as a malicious hoax to incite public panic.

Nobody has been arrested and these investigations are continuing. Extra staff and police presence were made available for when the schools re-opened the following day (Tuesday 17th).

C24-293927 - Social Media Threats

On December 16, at approximately 9:30 p.m., officers from the East District responded to the report of a threatening social media post sent to Elmwood High School. The message threatened to do harm at the school on the following day (Tuesday 17th).

On December 17, Oak Park High School re-opened, however, Elmwood High School remained closed as the police investigation continued.

A suspect was identified and taken into police custody. The youth (female) was turned over to the Major Crimes Unit, no charges have been laid at this time.

Police do not believe there is any threat to safety for Elmwood High School in relation to the social media post.

The Winnipeg Police Service reminds the public that such online, email, written or verbal threats are considered a criminal offence.

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