Police in two B.C. cities are reassuring parents that online threats targeting schools in Langley and Abbotsford over the weekend are not credible, but acknowledge the messages have created "a sense of fear and anxiety."
Sgt. Paul Walker, with the Abbotsford Police Department, said Monday officers became aware on Friday of a message that was circulating both on social media and through emails, indicating violence would occur on April 7, at various schools throughout the city.
Walker didn't give details of the content of the messages as the investigation is ongoing, but he said investigators have determined the threats aren't credible and they believe there's no risk to the public.
"My message is the Abbotsford school system right now is safe. We don't see any viable threat there. We don't have any risk of you not sending your kids to school. And if we did, we would say that," said Walker.
Abbotsford police said in a statement that officers responded to numerous so-called "swatting" calls across the city over the weekend, which happen when people falsely report violence to police, endangering lives.
Walker said there were dozens of the calls intended to generate a large police response around schools.
"They want to see chaos. They want to see fear," said Walker, "We don't want to give them that."
Police said each of the weekend calls were assessed and determined to be false.
Langley Mounties said they also received multiple calls on Sunday about threats of violence targeting schools and daycares.
RCMP said the emails circulating in Langley "contains concerning language alleging potential acts of violence."
The department said it is working with the Abbotsford Police Department to thoroughly investigate the threats.
Walker said officers are tracing the evidence that started the initial swatting calls.
"We are looking to determine the origin, who is responsible, whether that's one individual or a series of individuals," Walker said. "Individuals that send these type of messages have no place in our community, have no place in our country or Lower Mainland to instil the fear that they do by sending these types of messages out."
Walker said school resource officers and patrol officers had been deployed to schools on Monday.
Police said they will make sure the public is informed if any new information about safety is revealed.
The Abbotsford school district said in a statement that it is aware of a "serious online" threat that was made against schools in the district, but the police have found no evidence indicating that the threat is credible.
"Based on their review, we are confident that there is no known risk to our schools, students, or staff," said the district.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 7, 2025.
Nono Shen, The Canadian Press
