Investigation ongoing into threat at Lethbridge middle school

Gilbert Paterson Middle School in Lethbridge is closed on Friday, March 23, 2018 in response to a security threat.

Lethbridge police are continuing to investigate a possible threat that was made towards one of that city’s schools on Thursday.

Authorities became aware of the situation on March 22 when the principal of Gilbert Paterson Middle School, located in the 2100 block of 12 Avenue S., called police after a student found a message threatening violence at the institution.

Police began an investigation, but have not been able to determine who wrote the message or how long it had been posted before it was discovered.

"I can assure you that our officers, and being led primarily by our school resource officers are working diligently to try and find out who wrote the threat and the credibility of the threat as well," said Sergeant Cameron Van Roon with the Lethbridge Police Service.

Lethbridge police say they take all threats of violence seriously and have put additional police units in place in and around other schools in the community.

School officials say that given recent events in the United States, there has been an increased level of vigiliance in regards to violence at schools.

"Since Florida and the incident in Florida there definitely has been an increase in reports throughout the world, and this is a trend that continues to occur and I think what’s important for our school district to continue to do is to work with staff, work students, work with the community to deescalate the responses that create the hysteria around this, but also prepare staff to respond and be prepared for the continuing concerns around safety in schools," said Morag Asquith, associate superintendent with Lethbridge Public School District No. 51.

Gilbert Paterson was closed to students on Friday.