Front view of Oakwood Collegiate Institute in Toronto in 2006.Fernando Morales/The Globe and Mail
A Toronto District School Board student stands accused of plotting an attack on the anniversary of the massacre at École Polytechnique in Montreal.
Toronto Police said a 17-year-old boy was identified as a suspect early Tuesday morning after it became aware of a potential threat to Oakwood Collegiate Institute, around Dufferin Street and St. Clair Avenue West.
His home was searched, and police say they seized a number of items, including a machete, a hatchet, two swords, four knives and arrows for a bow-and-arrow set.
The suspect, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with uttering threats of bodily harm and uttering threats of death. He appeared in court on Tuesday.
Detective Len Nicholson told reporters at a news conference Wednesday night that a tip came from a member of the public on Dec. 1, when a person saw the threat on a blogging site.
"Toronto police received a call … from an individual in the United States, on the West Coast, saying that there was a threat that was posted on a blog site and it was threatening the school in Toronto," Det. Nicholson said.
Police said they later identified the school as Oakwood Collegiate Institute.
On Dec. 6, 1989, 25-year-old Marc Lépine shot more than two dozen people and killed 14 women at École Polytechnique. He spoke about his hatred for feminists and killed himself after the shooting rampage.
Ryan Bird, a spokesman for the TDSB, said the principal at Oakwood Collegiate was notified by police of the threat after school ended on Monday. By Tuesday morning, before school started, an arrest was made.
Mr. Bird confirmed the 17-year-old was a TDSB student.
"It's obviously concerning," Mr. Bird said. "The good news is we worked closely with Toronto Police and they made a very quick arrest."
The school sent a letter home to parents Wednesday informing them of the threat. Counselling support will be made available to students and staff, Mr. Bird said.
"The person has been arrested so there's no need for further precautions at this time," he said.
With a report from The Canadian Press
Caroline Alphonso