Police officers patrol the halls of the University of Winnipeg on Friday, Sept. 21, 2007.
University of Winnipeg on high alert after threat
CTV.ca News Staff
Students at the University of Winnipeg will be sharing the halls with police and security guards today after a threat was scrawled on a men's bathroom wall in the school.
CTV Winnipeg has learned the message threatened to "shoot up this place on Sept. 26."
University of Winnipeg spokesperson Dan Hurley told CTV Newsnet Friday that the university is taking no chances and is doing all it can to warn students about the threat. It's sending out emails, leaflets, and media reports to get the word out that the campus community needs to be vigilant.
"Certainly in this day and age and certainly with recent incidents on campuses in North America we wanted to take this very seriously and make people aware of it," says Hurley.
On its website, the university confirmed the message warned of an occurrence on the morning of Sept. 26.
The statement from President and Vice-Chancellor Lloyd Axworthy said the university is working closely with the Winnipeg Police Service, security has been boosted and an investigation is underway by the Major Crimes Unit.
The school has remained open, but security was tightened at the downtown campus and students were urged to keep their identification handy.
"First let me say that the safety and security of students, faculty and staff is the number one priority of the university," Axworthy, a former Liberal foreign affairs minister, said in a statement.
"The university has taken the responsible and appropriate approach by disclosing to our community a warning message found written on a wall of one of our washroom facilities."
The statement said a student reported seeing the message on Sept. 19 and it was immediately reported to Winnipeg police who sealed off the bathroom and examined the scene.
Police have not yet determined whether it is simply graffiti or a more serious threat.
A search has been conducted of all other bathrooms at the university. No other messages were discovered.
The university has about 10,000 full- and part-time students.
Axworthy said Thursday that universities have been increasingly targeted, following tragedies like those at Virginia Tech and Dawson College.
He also said the university has experienced similar threats in the past, but none have been this personal.
A message warning of a shooting was found on a men's washroom wall, across from the library, on the first floor of the University of Winnipeg's Centennial Hall, in Manitoba, Canada.

The message said: I'm going to "shoot up this place on Sept. 26." According to the ''Globe and Mail'', the exact wording of the message is disputed.

It was reported to campus security by a student just two days ago on Wednesday morning. Police examined the scene and checked other washrooms in the facility for related threats, but found none. The washroom is closed and police are guarding it. Several school entrances were guarded off on Thursday.

As a precaution, the University has tightened up security, and an investigation with the Major Crimes Unit is already in the works. They are still trying to determine if this is a prank by one of the students, or if this is an actual threat.

"The university has taken the responsible and appropriate approach by disclosing to our community a warning message found written on a wall of one of our washroom facilities," said President of the school and Vice-Chancellor Lloyd Axworthy, who was on a trip to Chicago when he heard of the news.

"In these circumstances you're never sure," he said. "The graffiti was on the wall. There have been similar kinds of pranks in the past at the University of Winnipeg. There have been bomb threats, and we have taken appropriate action over the years, but you can never rely on that," Axworthy added. "In today's heightened and somewhat dangerous circumstances, and the society we're in, we can't take any chances."

The University's press release (see sources section) says frightened students and instructors can stay home on Wednesday. "The University respects those who make that decision and places no judgment on those who make that decision." Students can arrange to finish their missed exams on a separate date. The press release asks students to "notify your professor by the end of day Monday, September 24 (if possible) if you do not intend to attend classes on Wednesday." Faculty members, instructors, and staff are asked to notify the school on Monday if they do not wish to come on Wednesday.

Security are making random checks in students' backpacks, bags, and other items.



Police are preparing plans to take instant action on the day of the threatened shooting.

The last major shooting at a Canadian school was at Dawson College in Montreal, Quebec last year.

Less than 10,000 people are enrolled at the University of Winnipeg.