Nunavut schools close due to territory-wide bomb threats

NEWS: Nunavut September 22, 2016 - 10:48 am
“This type of threat is taken very seriously" The territorial government closed all of Nunavut’s schools early Sept. 22, following a wide-spread bomb threat sent to the RCMP the same morning. Nunavut RCMP said they received a threat at 9:00 a.m., Sept. 22, that bombs had been placed in schools in all three regions of the territory. The schools have been temporary closed and will reopen once confirmed to be safe, police said Sept. 22. Police and government officials are asking all parents to pick up their children immediately. The threats are similar to those received in other parts of Canada and the U.S. earlier this week, all of which proved to be hoaxes. But territorial officials said they must prioritize the safety of students and staff. “This type of threat is taken very seriously and the Government of Nunavut is working with the RCMP to take every precaution to keep students and school staff safe,” the GN said in a Sept. 22 release. “The RCMP is responding to this threat by conducting thorough walk-throughs of all schools and school property and facilities.” As a precaution, police are also checking in at all Nunavut Arctic College’s community learning centres and campuses, the GN said. Earlier this week, RCMP in Ottawa received a faxed threat claiming bombs has been placed in schools throughout Prince Edward Island, prompting the evacuation of all the province’s schools. Police in Nova Scotia and Winnipeg received similar threats Sept. 20. In each case, the threats were unfounded. “Although RCMP does not believe the threat to be credible, we are working with the department of Education to ensure the safety of Nunavutmiut,” the RCMP said Sept. 22.
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Don Quixote Note:
School in Grise Fiord was closed and all students sent home. Local RCMP is conducting walk throughs and will determine when school will reopen. The GN says once the RCMP has determined that schools are safe, principals and local DEAs will be informed and will decide when to resume classes.