5th teen charged as Halifax police investigate recent school bomb threats

Halifax police officers investigating numerous bomb threats at local schools over the last six weeks are continuing to lay charges, announcing Wednesday they have charged a fifth teenager.

The 16-year-old is accused of mischief and uttering threats related to an incident at Citadel High School in central Halifax on May 2, police said in a news release. He is due to appear in Halifax youth court at a future date.

On Monday, police announced they had arrested and charged a 13-year-old related to a bomb threat at Rocky Lake Junior High School in Bedford on May 3, and another 13-year-old for a bomb threat at Fairview Junior High School in Halifax on May 1.

Both teens are scheduled to appear in Halifax youth court at a later date to face charges of mischief and uttering threats.

The latest arrests come on the heels of arrests last week related to J.L. Ilsey High School, where two other teens — ages 15 and 16 — were charged in relation to a bomb-threat case. Those teens are also scheduled to appear at Halifax youth court at a later date to face charges of mischief and uttering threats.

"So far at this point, all these recent incidents have been information that has been written on school property," Const. John MacLeod told CBC News in an interview on Monday.

In a news release, Halifax Regional Police said since April 1, they've received 26 separate reports of messages being left in schools throughout the Halifax area "referring to explosive devices in buildings." Education officials have said many involve bomb threats written in bathrooms.

More charges possible

Every time a report comes in, police say they end up going to the schools to investigate. They said every time they've gone to a school, they were "unable to locate any safety concerns."

"When we get one of these, it is important that we do take them seriously," MacLeod said. "You know, we are going to go and we are going to investigate each and every one of them."

The bomb threats have caused a lot of stress and grief, he said.

"They are a criminal event. We are treating them as such," MacLeod said. "We are going to continue to investigate and we do anticipate future charges."

Anyone with information on the threats can share it with police directly at 902-490-5020. Anonymous tips can be shared through Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).