Scarborough high school placed in hold and secure for hours, days after student stabbed
Posted November 17, 2022 6:17 pm.
Last Updated November 17, 2022 6:22 pm.
Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute in Scarborough was placed in a Hold and Secure on Thursday, days after a male student was stabbed and critically injured.
Concerned parents contacted CityNews, saying the school was under lockdown for several hours. A spokesperson for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) confirmed with CityNews that a Hold and Secure had been lifted around 4 p.m.
Ryan Bird says there was an unsubstantiated threat made, and because of the violent incident that occurred at Birchmount Park C.I. this week, the safety procedure was declared “to ease any fears within the school community.”
In a letter to parents and guardians, the school’s principal, Karen Hume, said the action was taken to protect staff and students just before 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.
“We take any threat against the school, students or staff very seriously, and in light of the incident that took place on Monday, we wanted to take every precaution to ensure the safety of students and staff,” Hume wrote in the letter.
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Around a dozen police cruisers were observed outside Birchmount Park C.I. on Thursday, with Hume acknowledging a police presence since Monday’s stabbing.
The school’s principal thanked students and staff for their patience and cooperation.
“This has been a challenging week for the Birchmount Park C.I. community, but please know that we are taking every precaution possible to keep students and staff safe.”
A 17-year-old male student remains in the hospital in stable condition after being stabbed at Birchmount Park C.I. around 3 p.m. on Monday.
The stabbing happened inside the building, and the victim is a Grade 12 student at the school.
A Toronto police spokesperson tells CityNews the investigation is ongoing and that no arrests have been made.
It’s the second stabbing incident at Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute dating back to the spring when a 14-year-old boy was injured on April 25.
