Police investigating Guelph school threat say nothing suspicious found

An elementary school in Guelph was evacuated after someone called in a bomb threat.

Waverley Drive Public School was evacuated Friday morning after officials said someone called in a bomb threat.

The threat was left on the elementary school’s voicemail and staff immediately reported it to police.

Students who had already arrived for classes were moved a few blocks away.

“Out of an abundance of caution, students and staff were kept outside of the school and were evacuated to nearby École Élémentaire L’Odyssée,” said the Upper Grand District School Board in an email to CTV News.

School staff reached out to parents to let them know they were safe and could be picked up by their caregivers at École Élémentaire L’Odyssée, while officers and canine units checked all backpacks left at Waverley Drive Public School for any explosive devices.

Police believe they know who made the bomb threat but have made no arrests.

“We’ll try to confirm if these individuals are the ones that are responsible and are the ones that placed the call and why they did so,” said Scott Tracey with the Guelph Police Service. “At this point, we’re satisfied that there is not a threat to this school community and, frankly, never was. But beyond that, in terms of why this was done and the reason for it, is part of the investigation.”

The school was cleared by the afternoon and students were given permission to pick up their backpacks.

The Upper Grand District School Board thanked police for their support and École Élémentaire L’Odyssée for taking in their students on short notice.