Threat to Winnipeg School Division was a hoax, schools say

Police are investigating a threat that was faxed to the Winnipeg School Division Wednesday morning, but schools have informed parents it was a hoax.

Around 8:30 a.m., a message wassent to the division office that contained a "threat to all schools within the division," Winnipeg police said.

The threat was "receivedanonymously from an out-of-country location," according to a form lettersent home with students from a school in the division.

The schooldivision immediately contacted the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS)and "appropriate steps were taken to maintain school safety," the letter states, though it doesn't say what those steps were.

"Winnipeg Police Service informed usat 10:30 a.m. that the threat was deemed to be a hoax."

Police told CBC there wasno need for any of the division's 78 schoolsto be locked down or evacuated.

Even ifa threat appears to be a hoax, the servicesaid it"responds to incidents of this nature with the highest priority," apolice news release stated.

Police said there is likely some kind of connection between the message and similar threats that prompted the evacuation ofall schools in Prince Edward Island, including Holland College and the University of Prince Edward Island.

Two campuses of the Nova Scotia Community College the IT campus in Halifax and Marconi campus in Sydney were also evacuated as a result of similar threats.

• P.E.I. schools evacuated after bomb threat
• NSCC campuses in Halifax, Cape Breton evacuated after bomb threat

The threat to the eastern schools received via fax byRCMP in Ottawa didn't specify any particular schools, but itdid say bombs would be detonated Wednesday, RCMP Staff Sgt. KevinBaillietold a news conference in Charlottetown on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking about the threats to P.E.I. and Nova Scotia schools,told reporters on Wednesday that his staff informed him all staff and children are safe and "the situation is under control."

"As a parent, I know how worrisome this situation can be, and I know that the affected parents must be having a very difficult day," he said.

"We continue to monitor the situation closely."