Flaming arrows, Molotov cocktails launched at Calgary schools

Update:Youths come forward to police after 4 arson attempts at Calgary school

Police are trying to find several male youths believed to be responsible for a string of arson attempts at two southeast Calgary schools, some of them using Molotov cocktails and flaming arrows.

Four of the incidents happened last month at St. Isabella Elementary Junior High School at 855 Copperfield Blvd. S.E.

• Calgary fire chief burning mad over response-time increase proposal

On Feb. 7 at about 5:45 p.m. four male youths were seen trying to light arrows on fire and shoot them against the south wall of the school, police said in a release.

In three subsequent incidents on Feb. 12, Feb. 15 and Feb. 23, two to four youths were seen attempting to light fires.

"It is believed that these incidents are connected to the first and that in the last three, the unknown youths mixed and used Molotov cocktails to start the fires," police said.

A fifth similar incident happened on Feb. 18 at about 10 p.m. at McKenzie Lake School at16210 McKenzie Lake Way S.E. In this case witnesses reported seeing four youth flee in a four-door sedan.

Plea to parents

Police say they have reviewed CCTV security footage from the areas but have not been able to identify the suspects, who are all male and were wearing dark hoodies.

"We encourage parents who live in the area to have conversations with their kids about these incidents. It is very likely that somebody knows something," said acting Staff Sgt. Scott McCann of the CPS general investigations unit.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or contact Crime Stoppers.

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS|Lethbridge police review of 'street checks' leads to more training, annual reports on practice
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS|Snow accumulation in Calgary much higher than normal levels, data shows