A threatening social media post has sent a Catholic boys school in Melbourne into lockdown, with a police investigation underway into the incident.
A Catholic boys school in Melbourne's south-east was locked down for more than an hour on Wednesday morning after threats were made on social media.
Victoria Police said they received reports of a threatening social media post about 11pm on Tuesday.
“The post did not include threats against any particular school or person,” a police statement just before 10.30am on Wednesday said.
Ms Frizza confirmed in a statement that “all our students and staff are safe”.
“At 9.40am the lockdown was lifted, and classes have resumed as normal. Thank you to all our community for your cooperation and understanding,” she said.
Lockdown Over Threatening Social Media Post
The Herald Sun reported the social media post included a picture of a gun with the caption “Im (sic) unloading mags on my teacher”.
The gun pictured appeared to be a 9mm Glock 18 pistol, or replica, with a zip lock bag placed next to it understood to have mostly .22 LR ammunition, believed to be not compatible with the gun.
Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the incident.
What Happened
The incident began on Tuesday night when a threatening social media post was reported to police. The post, which featured a picture of a gun and a caption threatening violence against a teacher, prompted authorities to act swiftly. Police advised St Bede's College to enter lockdown as a precaution.
Students and Staff Safe
The lockdown, which lasted for over an hour, ended at 9.40am on Wednesday, and students and staff were allowed to resume their normal schedules. Police confirmed that there was no ongoing threat to the school and that the investigation into the origin of the social media post was underway.
School's Response
In a statement, St Bede's College principal Deb Frizza reassured the school community that all students and staff were safe. She thanked the community for their cooperation and understanding during the lockdown.
Police Investigation
Victoria Police have confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the school and that investigations to determine who created the threatening social media post are underway. The police investigation will focus on identifying the individual responsible for the post and determining their motives.
A Welcoming and Inclusive Community
St Bede's College, which also has a campus at Bentleigh East, describes itself as “a welcoming, inclusive and independent College Community, where students have the right to be safe, valued, challenged and respected by all”.
The incident highlights the growing concern about online threats and the potential impact they can have on schools and communities. It serves as a reminder of the importance of online safety and the need for responsible social media use.
