Campbell River RCMP say there was no credible threat to local schools following online rumours that circulated over the weekend.

School District 72 issued a statement Monday morning acknowledging safety concerns raised online about a possible threat involving students.

The district said it contacted RCMP as soon as the information came to its attention and was advised by police that there was no credible threat.

According to the district, police determined the information originated from “outside the community” and did not involve a local student.

The district emphasized that student and staff safety remains its top priority and said it will continue working closely with police while following established safety procedures.

Families were asked to rely on information shared directly by the school or district and to avoid spreading rumours that can cause unnecessary concern.

Later yesterday, Campbell River RCMP released additional details about the investigation.

On Sunday, March 1, police were made aware of a series of online threats between a group of youths.

The situation escalated when one of them posted a picture of himself with a gun and made threats toward others who had threatened a friend.

RCMP say officers investigated and seized what was determined to be a BB gun.

Police say the heavy use of social media in the community caused the argument between a small group to spread quickly, leading to rumours of a significant police presence at one of the schools, as well as rumours of potential shootings at both Carihi and Timberline secondary schools.

While acknowledging the fear online threats can create, especially in the wake of the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, police stressed the importance of relying on credible sources of information.

They cautioned that while local “Rant and Rave” pages and Snapchat groups can spread information quickly, they are not always reliable.

Police are asking anyone who comes across information online they believe to be a threat to contact their local police immediately and report the account to the social media provider.

For more information, visit School District 72.