19-year-old arrested after death threats made at Hamilton school

Hamilton police have arrested a 19-year-old man after threats prompted a high school to close its doors to students on Friday.

The arrest was made in connection with death threats made toward Westdale Secondary School.

The school issued a letter to families on Thursday notifying them that the school would be closed the following day. The letter says the school board made the decision to shut down the school after receiving new information about a potential threat to school safety.

“Hamilton Police recognize the importance of school safety and how a threat of this nature can be difficult for students, staff and their families,” reads a police release.

“Police take incidents like these extremely seriously and will continue to work closely with the school boards to help identify the individuals responsible.”

The 19-year-old has been charged with two counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.

Hamilton police began an investigation last week into threats towards several schools after messages were found written on bathroom walls. The investigation is ongoing and police they expect to make more arrests in the coming days.

String of threats made against Ontario schools in recent days

Meanwhile, police arrested a youth after an incident involving threats being made at a high school in Orillia on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, a 17-year-old boy was arrested after police in Peel Region discovered what they called disturbing messages posted online threatening a Brampton high school.

On Monday, two teens were arrested after making threats with fake guns in Aurora, resulting in two York Region schools being placed in hold and secure.

A day later, three teenagers were arrested and charged following two separate pellet gun incidents at west-end Toronto schools.

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With files from Lucas Casaletto of CityNews