Multiple threats against Coquitlam schools all connected, RCMP say

For the second day in a row, schools in Coquitlam were targeted with unsubstantiated threats on Thursday.

Two high schools in Coquitlam were placed under hold-and-secure protocols again Thursday morning, after RCMP say they received additional alleged threats.

The Coquitlam school district said students at Centennial and Gleneagle secondary schools were kept in classrooms, until officers were able to confirm they were safe.

Multiple schools in the Tri-Cities were also placed under hold-and-secure protocols Wednesday afternoon, while police investigated threats that have since been deemed unfounded.

Centennial Secondary was also the target of additional threats last week, which were also determined to be unfounded.

In an update Thursday afternoon, Coquitlam RCMP confirmed that the events were connected, and that all the threats were received by phone.

They also addressed rumours about the alleged suspect that have been spreading online.

“We are aware of the information circling on social media about this investigation,” said Insp. Todd Balaban, acting officer in charge of the Coquitlam RCMP.

“We need to be cognisant of what social media says because we actually have to fact find and check and make sure those things are accurate.”

No information about the nature of the threats has been provided.

“We recognize incidents of this nature can be concerning to our community and can have an impact on the sense of safety and security. We want to assure you we are working collaboratively with the school district as well as the affected schools to address these ongoing incidents” says Sgt. Adriana O’Malley of the Coquitlam RCMP, in a news release.

“Our investigators are working around the clock to advance these investigations and identify those involved.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2026-2903.