‘Swatting’ being investigated after threats at Metrotown mall, SkyTrain, Port Moody school
Posted October 1, 2021 3:14 pm.
Last Updated October 1, 2021 9:34 pm.
BURNABY (NEWS 1130) — After a mall, a SkyTrain station, and a school in Metro Vancouver were evacuated Friday afternoon due to “threats,” police say they are investigating the possibility the incidents are linked.
In Burnaby, police descended on the Metrotown area around 3 p.m. Reports of shots fired at the mall, and a bomb at the SkyTrain station forced a swift evacuation, causing chaos and confusion for shoppers and commuters.
According to the Burnaby RCMP, there is no evidence that either of these things was true, and “the area has been cleared of any active threat.”
Another video of the evacuation taking place at Metrotown right now@CityNewsVAN @News1130 pic.twitter.com/80ZnFGLO1c
— vanessadoban(Taylor’s Version) ???? (@vanessadoban) October 1, 2021
The SkyTrain station and bus loop reopened Friday evening. However, the mall will remain closed overnight.
We understand this was a dynamic and distressing situation for the public and those in the area, with customers and staff taking shelter in stores in the mall, and others evacuating from the building
says Corp. Mike Kalanj. We are grateful this call was unfounded and nobody was hurt.
Mounties are investigating the possibility of “swatting,” which is when fake emergency calls are made in order to trigger a significant response from law enforcement.
As we saw today, these unfounded reports prompt a large response from first responders, who must take these incidents seriously to protect the public,
Kalanj continues.
Around the same time, in Port Moody, police were called to a bomb threat at an elementary school.
Officers were called to Seaview Elementary School around 3:20 p.m. Classes had been dismissed for the day, but there were still some staff and kids on site. The building was evacuated and a team of dogs was brought in to search the school.
“It was determined that the threat was unfounded. At this time, we believe this incident to be a prank, often referred to as ‘swatting,'” says a statement from the Port Moody Police Department, adding that a “youth” was arrested for public mischief soon after.
“The suspect was later released and the investigation continues.”
The department is working with Burnaby RCMP and Metro Vancouver Transit Police to see if this was related to “similar incidents occurring in other nearby jurisdictions.”
