ON Thursday at 11:55 a.m., Delta Police received a report of an individual with a firearm at Burnsview Secondary School. In response, the school administration was requested to initiate a lockdown and subsequent hold and secure protocol.

Police officers arrived swiftly to assess the situation and ensure the safety of students and staff. Officers determined that the report was false and there was no threat. This incident has been classified as a “swatting call,” police said.

Police noted that swatting involves making a false report of a critical incident to elicit an urgent and substantial police response. The preservation of life is the primary duty of law enforcement. All calls reporting potential threats are taken seriously and treated as genuine until verified otherwise. Consequently, a significant police presence is deployed to ensure safety.

Delta Police said that filing a false report is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code, classified as mischief, and they have launched an investigation to identify the individual responsible for the swatting call.

“We urge the public to avoid spreading unverified information on social media, as it can cause unnecessary alarm within the community,” police said.

Today’s swatting incident posed no real threat to public safety, they said.