2 teens charged after threats made toward high school: Halifax police

Police say they have charged two teens after threats were made toward a high school in the Spryfield area of Halifax.

Halifax Regional Police arrested and charged a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old on Thursday in connection with an alleged incident at J.L. Ilsley High School on Tuesday.

They are scheduled to appear in youth court at a later date to face mischief and uttering threats charges.

"We take it very seriously but in the end, there are consequences when someone disrupts learning and creates a feeling of lack of safety in school or creates fear in schools," said Lindsey Bunin, spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education.

Halifax Regional Police says the force, as well as the RCMP, have responded to 25 separate threats at Halifax-area schools since the beginning of April.

The alleged threats involve messages in schools referring to explosive devices in the buildings.

Police say they checked the premises of the schools following the threats and weren’t able to find any safety concerns.

"We're going into investigate every one of these incidents. There are multiple investigations and they are all still ongoing," said Const. John MacLeod with Halifax Regional Police.

"Investigators do believe that they are making progress in the investigations and they do anticipate further charges."

MacLeod hopes parents are having conversations with their kids about the impacts these phone calls can have on everyone.

"This is certainly causing issues at schools," he said. "It can be disturbing and certainly cause fear amongst them. Not to mention it's certainly taking away resources that could be used in other places where police officers may be needed."

Halifax Regional Police is asking anyone with information to call them at 902-490-5020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

With files from CTV's Hafsa Arif.

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