Threat against McMaster University

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Within 3 days 2 universities received online threats. On friday, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Waterloo campus was put under a lockdown and now McMaster University in Hamilton was the focus of another online threat over the weekend.

Hamilton police say they received information on Saturday about a threat made towards campus safety at McMaster University.

The threat was posted online. Police could not confirm what site but said it was posted on an anonymous online forum.

Campus security was beefed up shortly after the university was notified. Hamilton police were also called to the campus as a precaution.

Police could not say if the threat was made to specific part of the campus or whether students were at risk.

Hamilton police in conjunction with Waterloo regional police and the OPP located the source of the threat to a home in Petersburgh, Ontario, which is located just west of Kitchener.

A 16-year-old teen was questioned and charges are pending.

Police say they take all threats very seriously. Constable Steve Welton with Hamilton police says “the threat made by the 16-year-old male was determined to be unsubstantiated.” McMaster University was not put under a lockdown under direction from police but officials say the safety and security of their students and staff is the number one priority.

“We take our guidance from police, so with this particular case, Hamilton police analyzed this particular post, assessed it and recommended a course of action, which is what we implemented. Every case is unique and this is the recommended action for this particular post.” said Gord Arbeau from McMaster University.

Meanwhile, authorities in London, England have charged a man who allegedly posted an online threat against Wilfred Laurier University.

A threat made on the online forum “4-chan” showed an image of a frog holding a gun and read ” don’t go to Laurier science building hall tomorrow.” A similar threat was posted on the same site just before a recent shooting on a oOegon college campus that left 9 people dead.

Laurier was shut down at 6 am on Friday and people were told to stay away, after administrators were tipped off to the threat overnight by the FBI.

The 22 year old man, identified by police as Daniel Ransem, was arrested on Friday.

His connection to the University is unknown at this time. He faces a charge of malicious communications and will appear in court tomorrow.