Threats against Waterloo Region schools being treated as ‘swatting’ incidents

Alpine Public School (Dave Pettitt / CTV Kitchener)

Threatening phone calls made to three schools in Waterloo Region are now being treated as potential swatting incidents.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service said the calls came in between 9 a.m. and 9:10 a.m. on Tuesday. The unidentified caller claimed to be enroute to Alpine Public School in Kitchener, Ayr Public School in North Dumfries and Baden Public School in Wilmot Township. The caller said they had weapons and threatened to hurt staff members and students.

All three schools were placed into lockdown as a precaution and officers searched the buildings.

On Tuesday afternoon, the police announced the threats were being treated as swatting calls.

Swatting refers to fake emergency calls which are made to elicit a large response from first responders, such as police.