Students at three Amherst, Nova Scotia schools are expected to be dismissed at their regular time today, according to the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, after a weapons scare prompted a lockdown in the area.
The board reported around 2 p.m. that police were still searching the Amherst Regional High School and surrounding areas, which resulted in a code blue lockdown at the school.
E.B. Chandler Junior High School and Spring Street Academy were also on lockdown Tuesday.
The board says the lockdown was lifted at Spring Street Academy around 11 a.m. and classes resumed as normal, but the outside doors were locked to the public and police remained at the school. Students were also told to remain inside the school during their lunch period.
Police continued to search the classrooms and surrounding areas at Amherst Regional High School and E.B. Chandler Junior High School Tuesday afternoon.
The board says a code blue lockdown means students are kept in their classrooms, all outside doors are locked and communication is kept to a minimum in case of a disturbance.
The lockdowns came into effect after someone told police they had spotted a person with a weapon on Townsend Avenue – about 100 metres from the school - walking towards Willow Street around 10 a.m.
Police informed the principal at Amherst Regional High School of the situation, who then locked the doors and advised students to stay inside. Administration then initiated a code blue lockdown at the school.
Deputy police Chief Ian Naylor says the sighting has not been confirmed yet and he declined to comment on what type of weapon the witness said they saw.
"There's been no incident, nothing has happened," Naylor said in an interview. "In the interim, the schools decided to take precautions."
With files from The Canadian Press
