Prince George RCMP and the school district have lifted the lockdown at local high schools after online threats put six schools again in code yellow.
"RCMP investigators have determined that the threats are non-credible and in some cases, out dated. As a result, police are recommending that the lock-down be lifted at all schools and regular school activity resume," said the Friday morning release, a day after schools were shut down when an online threat warned "every school in PG about to get hit."
School District 57 said schools "resumed normal operations" on that advice at around 10:05 a.m.
The district said "information" came officials as students and staff were arriving in the morning, and so they put the security alert to code red as "the most effective way to quickly ensure safety of students and staff."
That was downgraded to code yellow by 9:10 a.m.
"In continuing dialogue with RCMP, senior administration was advised to hold and secure all secondary schools located in Prince George," said the district in an update at 9:20 a.m. Within an hour, RCMP recommended security measures be lifted, but with increase police presence in schools.
Both codes put the schools in lockdown. Under code yellow, no unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter the building, students are kept in classrooms behind closed doors and the outside doors are locked, according to School District 57's website. Staff monitor exits with only supervised entrance and exit of students and parents as is necessary, it added.
Code red is considered an "immediate and imminent threat to the school building population" according to a B.C. school tip sheet, most commonly implemented when there is an intruder.
Two boys were arrested Thursday in connection with a threat made through social media that prompted Prince George schools to impose partial lockdowns until the early afternoon.
One 17-year-old was released and a 16-year-old was expected to appear in court Friday.
Police said they will keep investigating the threats and station more officers at schools.
"Any and all threats will be taken seriously," added Cpl. Craig Douglass in the email statement. "These investigations tie up resources that could be better used responding to where they are truly needed. Anyone believed to be involved in these threats will be the subject of a police response and treated seriously until determined otherwise."
