Threats about violence at Lower Mainland schools likely fake, police say

Police in two B.C. cities say emails and social media posts are circulating among local parents about potential acts of violence at schools in Abbotsford and Langley.

The Abbotsford Police Department says officers responded to numerous “swatting” calls across the city over the weekend, which happen when people falsely report violence to police, endangering lives.

It says each of the weekend calls was assessed and determined by officers to be untrue.

Langley Mounties say they received multiple calls on Sunday about the threats of violence targeting schools and daycares in both Langley and Abbotsford.

Police in both departments say investigators are taking the threats seriously and are working to determine the origin of the claims.

But they say there is no information to suggest the threat is real, and they believe it to be another swatting attempt.

“There is no credible threat that we have been able to determine violence today in our school system,” said Abbotsford Police Department Sgt. Paul Walker.

He says the school district will send information to parents directly via email and on its social media.

Police say they will make sure the public is informed if any new information about safety is revealed.