(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

what we know so far

Bomb threat against multiple Red Deer-area schools ‘not credible,’ say RCMP

Dec 16, 2024 | 11:48 AM

RCMP are investigating after a bomb threat was made Sunday against three central Alberta schools.

Red Deer’s St. Joseph High School and St. Francis of Assisi Middle School, which are operated by Red Deer Catholic, plus the Wolf Creek Public-run Iron Ridge Junior Campus in Blackfalds, are all confirmed to have been subjected to the threat, which was later deemed to not be credible.

Red Deer RCMP say the two Red Deer schools’ principals received an email on Sunday, which prompted RCMP to go into each one and conduct a search.

The same has occurred at Iron Ridge Monday morning, where classes are cancelled for the day, says Superintendent Tim De Ruyck.

Classes remain in session in Red Deer, however.

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In a letter sent to parents Monday morning, and provided to rdnewsNOW by a parent, St. Francis Principal, Rori-Lynn Daniel, writes that the threat came in late Sunday evening.

The threat indicated the threat pertained to Dec. 16.

No evidence of a credible threat was found, the letter states.

“We want to assure you that the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority. After careful assessment, we have determined that it is safe for students and staff to attend school as regularly scheduled,” Daniel writes.

“The school will be fully operational today, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we navigated this situation.”

Additional supports are also being provided to students who request them.

Red Deer Catholic Superintendent Kathleen Finnigan notes that schools utilized their ‘Hour Zero’ protocols in response to the threats, and she praised the work of RCMP.

The parent who provided rdnewsNOW the letter noted that their child heard from staff that the threat was made out of Florida.

Wolf Creek’s De Ruyck adds that a letter will go out to their parents once more has been confirmed in Blackfalds.

According to the Canadian Press, bomb threats were also made against two high schools in Winnipeg on Sunday. Those schools are also closed.

WJAX, a TV station in Florida, reported Monday morning a bomb threat in St. Johns County at a Publix supermarket.

Several schools in Delhi, India also received a bomb threat Monday morning, according to DelhiNow.

As of Monday morning, there’s been no link drawn by authorities between any of these cases.

We’ll share more information as it becomes available.