School beefs up security

POLICE and dogs are to patrol a Gold Coast Catholic high school after a former student was arrested over online threats.

A 14-year-old former student of Aquinas College at Ashmore has been arrested and charged over threats to the school, which were posted on Instagram on Friday.

The teenage boy was charged with one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

Principal Peter Hurley said the school contacted police immediately once a teacher alerted administration to the posts.

“On Monday morning, I contacted a senior police officer who told us that the threat was viewed seriously and that the person making the threats has now been arrested and charged; the matter is now in their hands,” Mr Hurley told the Bulletin yesterday. “While we were confident these actions mitigated any threats, on Monday we informed all of our parents of the circumstances.

“As I stated to our parents, it is extremely troubling that there are some in our society who try to scare children in such an irresponsible way and the fact that this can be done so easily via social media is a societal problem that reaches beyond schools.”

In a letter obtained by the Bulletin, parents were advised of increased security, which had been beefed up at the school as a precautionary measure.

“QPS will now increase their observations of our property, plus for added peace of mind we have employed onsite security that includes dog patrols,” Mr Hurley said.

“At the end of this week, we will reassess the need for this added security.”