A Nova Scotia teenager facing charges over alleged threats to commit a school attack will remain in custody for at least another month as the Crown has opposed bail.
Police in Bridgewater, N.S., announced that it arrested the 15-year-old on March 17, after receiving tips from Interpol and the FBI on March 13 about a “concerning online conversation” between the 15-year-old and another Canadian youth who were allegedly planning a “violent attack” on students at their local schools.
Police had reportedly earlier described the 15-year-old suspect as a girl, but the defence lawyer told the court on March 23 that the teen uses “he” and “him” pronouns, according to CBC News.
The RCMP in Manitoba said it conducted a traffic stop on a school bus on the morning of March 16 and arrested the other youth—a 14-year-old boy from Rivers, Mani., who police say was unarmed at the time of the arrest. The federal police force said it was alerted by Interpol to the online conversation between the two youths.
The arrests come after the Feb. 10 mass shooting at the local secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., which left 27 people injured and nine dead, including the shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, who police say died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The victims included a teacher and five students aged 12 to 13, who were killed at the secondary school, as well as Van Rootselaar’s mother and half brother, who were killed at their home. Two of the injured victims were airlifted to hospital, and one remains in critical condition.
Police say Van Rootselaar, who was born a male and had begun transitioning to female in recent years, had a history of mental health issues. The RCMP said officers had visited Van Rootselaar’s household on numerous occasions for mental health and firearms issues.
While police say the teenagers from Nova Scotia and Manitoba began talking online at the end of February, investigators say there’s no indication their alleged plans were spurred by the Tumbler Ridge shooting.
The 15-year-old from Nova Scotia appeared in court on March 23 for a bail hearing on charges including conspiracy to murder and uttering threats to cause death. Police say other possible offences, including hate crime, are currently under investigation.
The Bridgewater Police Service says it executed a search warrant at a Bridgewater residence the day it arrested the 15-year-old and located “detailed handwritten plans, imitation weapons, roughly made imitation pipe bomb and assault rifle, electronic devices including a cell phone and laptop and clothing with hate symbols and concerning comments.”
The Crown is opposing bail for the 15-year-old suspect. Crown attorney Shawna MacDonald told reporters outside the courtroom on March 23 that additional charges may still be laid as the matter is still under investigation.
“The police are still collecting information, so things could change, with respect to charges, depending on what is located by police,” MacDonald said.
The RCMP in Manitoba said it had seized the 14-year-old suspect’s phone and electronic devices at the time of arrest, and a subsequent search of two other properties associated with the youth resulted in the seizure of additional electronic devices and other items, including two firearms owned by a relative.
The youth was charged with uttering threats, and additional charges could be laid as the investigation continues, the RCMP said.
According to the information police received from Interpol and the FBI, the two youths had been allegedly planning to target Rivers Collegiate in Manitoba, about 250 kilometres west of Winnipeg. The school website says it has approximately 141 students in grades 7 to 12.
The other alleged target was Park View Education Centre in Bridgewater, roughly 80 kilometres southwest of Halifax. The school has approximately 880 students in grades 10 to 12, according to the school’s website.
The identities of both youths are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
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