Secure-the-building mode enacted at five schools in separate incidents

Five Regina schools were in secure-the-building mode for more than two hours Tuesday because of two separate incidents.

According to Regina police, St. Peter’s Elementary School, Archbishop M.C. O’Neill High School, Laval School and Thom Collegiate all enacted the safety protocol before noon in response to a social media message containing a potential threat. Initially, police said, the validity of the message was unknown. As a result, there was a large police presence on Argyle Street North.

Later Tuesday afternoon, police determined the message “did not result in an actual threat to students or staff.”

Police continue to investigate and say charges are pending.

Police would not confirm if the message was a threat to schools or anyone at the schools. It was deemed “concerning enough” to warrant a response, according to a police spokesperson.

At approximately 1 p.m., students on the playground of Seven Stones Community School on the 1100 block of Princess Street observed suspicious behaviour on property adjacent to school grounds. Students alerted school staff and as a result, a secure-the-building protocol was enacted.

The protocol was lifted about two hours later. It has been determined the incident did not result in an actual threat to students or staff; however police are continuing to investigate.

Secure the building is a situation where it is believed a threat is currently outside the building, resulting in the decision to secure the school whereby all outside doors will be locked to secure the building. Each exterior door is to be monitored by designated school staff until secure-the-building mode has been lifted.

Entry and exit of the building will be at the front doors only and are to be monitored by police and school administration. Regular interior school activities continue in a controlled manner.