A message circulating on Snapchat threatening Surrey student safety was not a genuine threat, police say.
On Monday evening (Sept. 16), several school staff were informed by students and families about a message posted to the social media app Snapchat. The message being circulated to Surrey students stated that a shooting would commence the following day, according to a screenshot posted in a Facebook community page.
Surrey RCMP and Surrey Schools did not disclose the nature of the threat made but said it posed a risk to student safety.
"Surrey Schools immediately engaged the RCMP, who determined the threat did not pose a credible risk to student safety," said Rena Heer, the district's communications director, who added the information posted online was circulated to multiple students at different schools.
School is in session as normal, Heer added, with Surrey RCMP sharing that school resource officers (SROs) will be present at some schools today (Sept. 17).
"A number of students forwarded the Snapchat message to their principal, parent, or trusted adult, and some reported it through the PSST (Protecting Surrey Schools Together) website. This online tool is an easy and immediate way for Surrey Schools to bring any incidents — or potential incidents — to the attention of their school community and RCMP," Heer said.
