**** HRP Release
Police investigate swatting incident
Police responded to a swatting incident at Halifax West High School yesterday.
On October 8 at approximately 12:25 p.m. a man called the school claiming to be on school property with a weapon. The school went into lockdown. Police completed a search of the school and found no evidence to support the threat. The school lifted the lockdown at 3:45 p.m.
With assistance from law enforcement agencies in Florida, members of the General Investigation Section determined the initial call was made from outside of Canada and was a hoax.
This type of incident is known as "swatting." Swatting involves making a false report to police with the intent of prompting a significant police response. False reports like this tie up emergency responders and divert them away from others who may need help.
The investigation is ongoing. There have been no charges at this stage.
