Durham police warn threats targeting Pickering school may be associated with online network that preys on kids

A woman scrolls through social media posts on her phone in this file image.

Durham police are warning a school community in Pickering that has been dealing with multiple threats that the incidents may be part of an emerging online threat targeting children and teens.

According to police, a coordinated network of online groups called “The Com” – short for community –has been targeting youth, typically between 8 and 13 years of age, on a number of platforms. Those platforms include social media channels and gaming platforms such as Discord, Snapchat, Telegram, Roblox, Minecraft, Twitch, and Steam.

“These groups use grooming, manipulation, intimidation, and coercion to exploit youth, which can lead to violent and/or criminal behaviour,” Durham Police Chief Peter Moreira warned in a letter sent out to families Wednesday.

William Dunbar Public School, near Dixie Road and Finch Avenue, was placed under lockdown on Jan. 27 following a threat to the school that was made over the phone, police previously said.

Parents held a rally at the school earlier this week to express concerns around how the threat was handled, including allegations that the school has not communicated properly or been transparent around the threats.

One parent told CP24 her son and the rest of his Grade 4 class had to stay under their desks for two hours and that he now has anxiety about returning to school.

The Durham District School Board has said it is working to make sure kids feel safe and that any issues with the response are addressed through further training.

Durham police said Monday they do not believe there is “any immediate public safety risk to students, staff, or the school community,” but nevertheless added an increased police presence around the school.

In his letter to families Wednesday, Chief Moreira did not say exactly how “The Com” may have been involved in threats against William Dunbar PS, but he did provide further details about the network and how to spot signs of its involvement.

“As you are aware, DRPS is investigating multiple incidents at William Dunbar Public School. These investigations are ongoing, which limits the details that can be shared at this time,” the chief wrote. “However, preliminary findings indicate the incidents may be connected to an emerging online threat affecting children and youth.”

He said groups associated with “The Com” tend to build trust through friendship or romantic attention and manipulate youth using fear, guilt, or intimidation.

Victims are sometimes coerced into harmful or unsafe activities, such as sharing intimate images, harming themselves or others, and are made to comply with demands through threats such as exposing private information, doxing, or swatting. Victims may also be coerced into displaying concerning usernames, symbols, or messages.

Police say parents should keep an eye out for a cluster of signs that may indicate something is wrong. Those signs include secret use of encrypted apps, as well as behavioural changes such as withdrawal, secrecy, mood changes, or declining academic performance.

Authorities also advise parents to be vigilant about increased or secretive use of phones or electronic devices, interest in extreme or harmful online ideologies and new online contacts a child seems unusually attached to or afraid of.

Moreira urged parents to speak with their children about online safety, review and monitor their online activity, and to report any concerns to police.

With files from Codi Wilson and Joanna Lavoie