Police have charged two teenagers – a 15-year-old girl from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, and a 14-year-old boy from Manitoba – with allegedly planning simultaneous attacks at their respective schools.
Alleged Plot Uncovered
The Bridgewater Police Service was alerted Friday by Interpol and the FBI about online conversations between the two teens discussing a “violent attack” at Park View Education Centre in Bridgewater and Rivers Collegiate in Rivers, Manitoba.
Park View Education Centre has approximately 900 students, while Rivers Collegiate serves 141 students in grades 7-12.
“The plan was to go in and murder multiple students, and the type of weapon used in the murder wasn’t clearly laid out yet,” Bridgewater’s deputy police chief, Danny MacPhee, told CBC News on Wednesday.
Arrests and Evidence
The Bridgewater teen was arrested Tuesday. A search of a residence revealed handwritten plans, imitation weapons – including an imitation pipe bomb and assault rifle – and clothing displaying hate symbols and “concerning comments.” A cellphone and laptop were also seized.
The Manitoba teen was arrested Monday during a traffic stop on a school bus. Police stated he was not armed, and his phone and electronic devices were confiscated.
“We know details of this arrest will have an impact on the students, parents, and the entire community of Rivers. Be assured that our officers acted quickly, worked closely with our policing partners, and took immediate steps to find and arrest the youth,” said Manitoba RCMP West District commander Supt. Lee Fortin in a news release Wednesday.
MacPhee stated the seized electronic devices are being analyzed for potential connections. He added that the teens had been discussing an attack “for a period of time,” and police discovered handwritten notes and a “mapping made out of the school.”
“It was a handwritten map, and then basically handwritten notes of a plan [and] how they would proceed with an active attack,” MacPhee said.
Investigation Ongoing
MacPhee believes the teens communicated online through a combination of open chatting and private messaging, which investigators will verify. He indicated the teens were planning simultaneous attacks at their schools, potentially in the next school year, and that they only know each other online.
“The plans were in the planning stages. They weren’t imminent, so we believe we’ve kind of hit this off before it escalated,” said MacPhee.
Authorities have found no evidence linking the teens to specific groups or organizations, but the investigation is ongoing.
MacPhee credited Interpol, the FBI, and Manitoba investigators for preventing the attack. “We do work a fair amount together…this is a big win for all agencies involved,” he said.
The South Shore Regional Centre for Education has increased student support and briefed staff on available resources.
The 15-year-old was arraigned Wednesday in Bridgewater youth court on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and uttering threats to cause death. He remains in custody with a next court appearance scheduled for March 23 in Bridgewater. Police are investigating the incident as a potential hate crime, and additional charges may be filed.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Bridgewater police.
The Manitoba RCMP stated the 14-year-old has been charged with uttering threats, with further charges possible as the investigation continues.
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