Closure of school an option after web threats

Covert and overt operations involving about 30 police officers, including the armed offenders squad, were undertaken after ‘‘credible threats’’ were made towards Wellington High School the day before it was locked down.

Stuff understands that police made an urgent request to social media site Instagram for information about the account that had posted threats online. The account was later taken down.

Once the suspects were identified, surveillance teams were posted at several properties in the wider Wellington region.

A youth is facing charges of unlawfully possessing a .22 rifle and ammunition, following the incident. Stuff understands that more charges are being considered.

After a second appearance in the Youth Court yesterday, he was further remanded in custody at a secure youth justice facility, most likely until December 4.

Another youth was

Youth Aid.

Stuff understands that police also considered closing Wellington High School on Thursday. However, there was not enough evidence to suggest a threat was imminent on that day.

Principal Dominic Killalea told Stuff that he was first made aware of the threats at 8.30am on Thursday, at which point he began to lock down the school.

The school had previously practised lockdown drills, and has worked with emergency planning specialist referred to firm Harrison Tew, which designs site-specific lockdown, crisis management and emergency response plans.

Killalea said the ‘‘difficult’’ thing about school lockdown drills was that they could be ‘‘quite traumatic’’ for children.

Following Ministry of Education advice, the school was planning to conduct another drill with only teachers, and was then planning another whole school one next year.

At 9.40am, parents were alerted through the school’s app.

Then a post was made on the school’s Facebook page. An email was sent to parents later.

Killalea said not sending an email right away was a lesson for the school.

‘‘No, we didn’t send an email ... in that first instance,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s all ... very complex and happens quite quickly. The first priority was keeping students and teachers safe; then we could get to the communication,’’ he said.

The school had a ‘‘complex site’’ with a community education centre, which operated independently, a preschool and Massey University also in the vicinity, Killalea said.

A lunch was held yesterday at the school for LGBTQI+ students. This was well received, he said.

‘‘It was just to tell them about the support we’ve got available to them ... and just to make it clear to them that they weren’t being targeted, as far as we know.’’

Other Wellington schools had offered support, including offering their guidance counsellors to help support students, which was something positive that often happened between schools when required, Killalea said.