Bomb threats against 2 Winnipeg schools were malicious hoaxes, police say

Police say the bomb threats that forced the closure of two Winnipeg schools Monday were sent as a “malicious hoax to incite public panic.”

Oak Park High School and Elmwood High School cancelled classes after receiving threatening emails on Sunday around 10:30 p.m.

The Winnipeg Police Service says the emails “indicated that harm would come to the schools” on Monday.

Police met with the administration from both the Pembina Trails School Division (Oak Park) and Winnipeg School Division (Elmwood) on Monday.

“Although no physical threats were discovered at either school, they both stayed closed on Monday as police continued to investigate,” WPS said in a news release Tuesday.

The WPS major crimes unit determined it was a hoax, police say. No arrests have been made.

Oak Park reopened Tuesday morning with extra staff and police presence.

Second threat at Elmwood High School

But Elmwood did not reopen in the morning – only reopening in the afternoon – because of a second threat to the school that police say is unrelated to the bomb threats.

Police say on Monday around 9:30 p.m., officers were alerted to a social media post sent to the school threatening to do harm on Tuesday.

A girl was identified as a suspect and taken into police custody. No charges were laid as of Tuesday afternoon.

Elmwood said classes were cancelled in the morning “as a precautionary measure.” The school division later determined it was safe for students and staff to return.