Armed police sent to school after ‘gunman’ Facebook posts

ARMED police were sent to a high school after people reported seeing a gunman in the aftermath of “irresponsible and scaremongering” Facebook posts allegedly claiming a shooting was planned.

Police were made aware of the social media posts yesterday morning, which concerned a school in the Newtown area of Powys.

Police advised schools in the area to be vigilant and subsequently arrested three men.

However, the posts led to what police called “serious concern in the area” and resulting rumours prompted “misunderstandings” – including reports of a man with a gun being seen outside Newtown High School.

This led to police sending a firearms unit to the school. Police have confirmed that no armed man was seen at or near the school and said the calls were the result of “rumours circulating”.

A spokeswoman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We were made aware this morning of utterly irresponsible and scaremongering posts on Facebook suggesting that the authors of the posts were going to use firearms at a school in the Newtown area.

“The posts were by individuals local to Newtown and police acted swiftly to address this, which resulted in the arrest of three local men, aged 20, 21, and 27, on suspicion of malicious communications and public order. As part of the initial response schools were also given advice to be vigilant.

“Understandably the posts caused serious concern in the area and unfortunately the subsequent rumours led to misunderstandings. This in turn led to calls to the police alleging there was a man with a firearm seen outside Newtown High School.

“Police had to respond appropriately to these calls based on the threat allegedly posed and a firearms unit was sent to the school. We can confirm that there was no man at the school and when we have delved further into the detail of the calls it has transpired that they were as a result of the rumours circulating and not based on first-hand accounts.

“Police have also carried out thorough searches as a result of the arrests and no weapons have been recovered.

“We hope this clarification will reassure the community.”

Three men, aged 20, 21 and 27, who police say are local to the Newtown area, have been arrested on suspicion of malicious communications and public order offences.