Niagara police charge two 15-year-olds in relation to school threats in Fort Erie

Niagara police have arrested and chargedtwo 15-year-old males from Fort Erie in relation to a recent series of threats made to local schools.

Last week, staff and students at four schools in Fort Eriewere told to "shelter in place," causing what Mayor Wayne Redekop said was "a lot of concern" in theclosely knit town of 30,000 residents.

Police said on Tuesday,Garrison Road Public Schoolreceived threats of gun violence by phone and, as a preventative measure, Stevensville Public School and Peace Bridge Public School were also told to "implement safety procedures."

On Thursday morning, police said someone made a bomb threat via telephone to John Brant Public School in theRidgeway area.

In both cases, police lifted the order within two hours or less, after they said theydetermined therewasno risk or ongoing threat.

The two teenagers were arrestedon Friday. According to police, each of themhave been charged with three counts each of uttering threats,false messagingand public mischief in relation to incidents they said took place at Garrison Road Public School,Stevensville Public School andJohn Brant Public School.

When asked if there had been a separate threat toStevensville Public School, police told CBC Hamilton "evidence existed to support the noted charges," but did not give further detail.

Police can'tnamed the suspectsunder the Youth Criminal Justice Act.Theysaid they "do not believe there is an ongoing safety concern related to these incidents.

They said "staff of the affected schools and the senior management of the District School Board of Niagara " were cooperative and that the investigation is ongoing, with five local detectives assigned to it.

Last year, schools in nearby Hamilton faced at least 23 shooting or bombing threats between late May and mid-June, leading to several charges. Some of those charged were teens.

At the time,experts told CBC Hamiltonthat high-profile incidents such as a school shooting can create a "contagion effect" that triggers other scary acts. Those threats occurred shortly after a mass shootingin Uvalde, Texas. ButSgt. Jason Tadeson, youth services co-ordinator for Hamilton Police Services,said last year there may be multiple factors at play for threats like these.

Redekop called the threats last week"completely destabilizing" and "out of character" for Fort Erie.

"Who knows what would possibly motivate people to make these kinds of threats or take these kinds of actions," hesaid.