SCHOOL ROCKED BY SHOOTER SCARE
SCORES of parents rushed to the gates of Belmont High School to take their children from class after reports of a possible shooting that put the school in lockdown yesterday morning.
Police scoured the area as students were locked in for an hour during the scare that was later declared a hoax.
A Year 11 student, who asked to remain anonymous, described the lockdown as frightening.
“It was all pretty scary, because it wasn’t actually a drill,” the student said. “We were just in the classrooms and the sirens went off, and it said, ‘This isn’t a drill, it’s a real emergency”, then we sat there for 10 minutes with no news . . . then 40 minutes later we got over the siren that it was a fake.”
Principal Sandra Eglezos praised the vigilance of staff and students who had “banded together” when the threat was reported at 10am.
“We enacted our student safety procedures on the advice of police as a precaution,” Ms Eglezos said.
“Students remained in their classrooms for about an hour. “All students are safe and well.” Victoria Police spokesman Leading Senior Constable Adam West confirmed police attended the school after reports of a security threat.
“Police were called to a school on Rotherham St, Belmont shortly before 10am following reports of a threat. Upon arrival, police established it was a hoax,” Sen-Constable West said.
“The school activated its safety plan. The area has been deemed safe and there is no active threat. The investigation is ongoing.”
A planned open evening at the school went ahead last night.
A leaked email from assistant principal Scott Hucker was shared to social media during the lockdown.
“Dear Staff, we have been notified by students and parents that there has been social media chatter between students regarding an alleged shooting to take place at Belmont High School today,” the email read.
Ms Eglezos could not say if any students had been involved in the threat or if any of members of the school community were being questioned by police. “There is no threat,” she said. “We were very pleased with the vigilance students and teachers (displayed).”
In a message to the Advertiser, another student claimed younger pupils made jokes about a shooting on Snapchat, resulting in the lockdown.
None of these allegations have been confirmed.
Victoria Police confirmed the threat was a hoax and could not detail any further investigation developments.
An Education Department spokesman could not comment on the alleged use of Snapchat in the hoax and referred all questions to police.
Counselling and support services will be offered to students affected by yesterday’s events.