School calls in cops
Former student behind threats
ANOTHER Gold Coast school has been forced to call in police – this time after threats posted on social media by a former student.
Days after Helensvale State School was thrown into its third lockdown from a bomb threat since November, A.B. Paterson College at Arundel was also targeted.
A former student allegedly made unspecified threats on social media, prompting a police presence on site yesterday.
A police spokeswoman confirmed the teenager involved had been identified and police were investigating after “generic threats” were allegedly made about the school. Classes continued as normal, with parents notified just before 10am via an email from senior school assistant principal Joanne Sheehy.
“The College has become aware of a former student using a personal social media account to make concerning comments about the school,” the email read.
“Given the nature of the content, the matter has been referred to the Queensland Police. A number of students and parents have brought the posts to our attention.”
Parents have since praised the school for being proactive in reporting the possible danger.
Principal Brian Grimes told the Bulletin “offensive”, “inappropriate” comments were made online in relation to the school.
Police are warning perpetrators, including teenagers, could face jail time for endangering students and tying up police resources.
A 17-year-old northern Gold Coast youth has been charged after Tuesday’s bomb hoax which saw children and parents forced to hide under tables at Helensvale State School for two hours as police swept it for explosives.
The teen was charged with three offences after allegedly leaving a series of threatening voice messages on the primary school’s answering machine.
The same school was locked down for four hours on February 19 after separate phone threats.
In May last year A.B. Paterson College was the victim of a social media scare, when a person threatened to “shoot up” the school.
Similar threats were made towards Upper Coomera State College and Elanora State High School around the same time. All three were later declared hoaxes.
Member for Bonney Sam O’Connor said it was a concerning trend.
“It’s every parents’ worst nightmare,” he said. “It’s clearly happening far too often and I think that can be linked to social media. They need to be made more aware that everything they say, particularly on social media, does have repercussions, this is disgraceful behaviour.
“The people who are doing this need to have the full force of the law thrown at them to deter them.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Making threats, regardless of the forum, are treated seriously and offenders face serious criminal charges with significant penalties, including a term of imprisonment.”