Arrests follow social media threats against several Montreal schools over the weekend

The SPVM announced this morning that eight schools in Montreal have been targeted with threats on social media over the past few days, and arrests have been made. According to La Presse, six teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 have been arrested.

“It is important to remember that online activities are not without consequences. Such threats expose people to criminal prosecution.”

This news follows a lockdown at a high school last week in St-Michel due to the stabbing of a teacher by a student.

Il est important de rappeler que les activités en ligne ne sont pas sans conséquence. De telles menaces exposent les gens à des poursuites criminelles.

— Police Montréal (@SPVM) December 13, 2021

Montreal police followed up this morning’s announcement with a statement about a trend among high school students of creating fake profiles in order to share anonymous threats with other students in their own school “in order to sow fear and confusion.”

Police also reminded the public that no one is truly anonymous online, and that any threat written or shared on social media is a risk of criminal prosecution. They also gave advice for anyone who sees threats or violent comments on social media.

• immediately notify a trusted person, a responsible adult, a person in authority;
• contact 911 to report threats;
• take a photo of violent posts;
• take note of the identities of social media accounts that post, comment on, and encourage such threats;
• never comment on or share such posts.

Le #SPVM a procédé à l’arrestation de six suspects en lien avec des menaces proférées dans les réseaux sociaux à l’endroit d’écoles secondaires. Les suspects appréhendés sont tous mineurs.

Détails ➡ https://t.co/MnQfhZXDpb pic.twitter.com/dpTb42wWLi

— Police Montréal (@SPVM) December 13, 2021

This article was originally published on Dec. 13 at 8:23 a.m. and updated at 1:18 p.m.

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