More schools closed after Manitoba middle school receives another threatening voicemail
Several schools in southeast Manitoba were closed Friday after a round of threatening voicemails came in over the last week.
The Hanover School Division said all Steinbach schools and Kleefeld School are closed Friday after Clearspring Middle School (CMS) received the threatening voicemail late Thursday afternoon. According to an update on the division’s website, the caller issued threats to CMS and Steinbach Regional Secondary School.
“We take threats to schools or persons very seriously; therefore, upon receiving the voicemail today, staff immediately contacted the RCMP,” the post on the division’s website said.
“The RCMP are taking this very seriously, and an active investigation continues to be underway. We thank the RCMP for providing support to the Hanover School Division.”
According to the division, all Steinbach schools and Kleefeld School will switch to remote learning on Friday.
This comes after two similar voicemails were left last week at CMS, one of which directed a threat to that school.
“Upon investigation, the RCMP determined the call was associated with a US telephone number,” Hanover School Division superintendent and CEO Shelley Amos said in a letter posted to the school’s website on Jan. 19.
“There are indications that this is not a legitimate threat, but this has not yet been confirmed. An active investigation by the RCMP is underway.”
CMS was closed the next day out of an abundance of caution, the division said.
Another threatening voicemail came to CMS on Thursday, issuing threats to Kleefeld School.
Both CMS and Kleefeld School were closed Thursday as a result of those messages.
RCMP say those previous three calls originated from the same phone number in Wisconsin, but police there have ruled out the homeowners.
Officers are now trying to track down the caller by focusing on identifying the IP address associated with the calls.
- With files from CTV's Charles Lefebvre
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.