A vast police operation was underway Tuesday morning at Père-Marquette high school, in the La-Petite-Patrie sector, in connection with threats that would have been made at the start of the day, forcing the suspension of classes.
Posted at 9:28
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) confirms having erected a security perimeter around the school in the early morning, after being made aware of “threatening remarks” whose nature is still unknown. “For the moment, we don’t know either if it was directed at a student, the school or another organization,” said agent Mariane Allaire Morin, spokesperson for the police force.
According to him, several students were “not yet in class at the time of the call” deemed threatening. The police are therefore on site to “ensure everyone’s safety” and contain the potential threat. On-site personnel will be evacuated.
“We really don’t take any chances in such cases, and we establish a security perimeter. The situation is under control, ”insists Mme Allaire Morin, indicating that an investigation is also underway to try to determine the origin of the threat, and its author.
Classes suspended for the day
On its Facebook page, the school management told parents on Tuesday that a “worrying, but unproven situation has been brought to its attention”. “The management submitted this information to the SPVM, which recommended suspending classes for the day of Tuesday, May 3, 2022, for the whole day. A more complete communication will be sent to you shortly.
Note: this is not the first time that the Père-Marquette school has been targeted by threats. Almost two years ago, in October 2020, this establishment located on Marquette Street, just south of Bellechasse, had been the subject of a major police deployment – including the Tactical Intervention Group – after a containment alarm, associated with an active shooter threat, was triggered earlier in the day.
At the time, no students were in the school, since it was a pedagogical day. The police had all the same taken out all the employees, who were sent to another building. The threat was ultimately proven to be unfounded.