Police in Halifax announced that a threatening call received at Halifax West High School on Thursday was a hoax and originated from outside Canada. The caller claimed to be on school property with a weapon, leading the school into lockdown until 3:45 p.m., causing students like Grade 12 student Dylan Bugdal to panic. Police are collaborating with law enforcement in Florida to trace the call and continue their investigation without any charges filed yet.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Thursday, a threatening call was made to Halifax West High School in Halifax, Canada, causing the school to go into lockdown. The caller claimed to have a weapon on the property, prompting immediate police response and evacuation of students from surrounding areas. Around 3:45 p.m. that day, after thorough investigation by Halifax Regional Police, the threat was deemed a hoax and the lockdown was lifted.
In an update provided on Friday, authorities revealed that the call originated outside Canada, specifically with assistance from law enforcement in Florida to trace its source. A Grade 12 student at the school, Dylan Bugdal, expressed surprise and concern over the incident, noting it was unusual for such events to occur during his three years at the institution.
This event highlights the serious impact that false alarms can have on schools and communities while also demonstrating international cooperation in addressing security threats.
Written for “Fake Threat Call To School” on 2026-10-09,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Police say a threatening call made to a Halifax high school was a hoax and came from outside of Canada.
asserted
call → say → Canada
School administrators at Halifax West High School received a call around 12:30 p.m. Thursday from a man who said he was on school property with a weapon, Halifax Regional Police said.
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Police → receive → weapon
The school immediately went into lockdown.
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school → go → lockdown
Dylan Bugdal, a Grade 12 student at Halifax West High School, said he’d left for lunch and returned to find officers surrounding the school.
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officers → say → school
“There’s police cars everywhere and people are coming up to me like ‘You can’t go back to the school, they’re all in lockdown, there’s a threat in the school,'” he said.
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he → ’ → school
Bugdal said he couldn’t recall something like that ever happening before in his three years at Halifax West and it left him “spooked.”
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it → say → him
“Everyone was panicking,” he added.
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he → panic → ?
Police said they found no evidence to support the threat and the school lifted the lockdown at 3:45 p.m.
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In an update Friday, police said they’ve determined the call originated outside of Canada and were working with law enforcement in Florida.
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call → say → Florida
“In any investigation, we look at all leads and investigate any and all leads that are available,” Cromwell said.
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Cromwell → look → leads
“That could include tracking a number.
uncertain
That → include → number
Any leads that we have are going to be investigated.”
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we → have → that
Lindsey Bunin, a spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, told Global News in an email the school district is working with police on the case.
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district → tell → case
“The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority,” she said.
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she → say → students
“We follow the direction of police and take precautionary measures to help keep students and staff safe while minimizing disruption to learning whenever possible.”
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We → follow → learning
Cromwell said no charges have been laid but the investigation is ongoing.
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investigation → say → ?
In nearby Lower Sackville, a separate investigation is underway after it was reported that a man had chased a student with a knife at junior high school on Thursday morning.
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man → report → morning
Leslie Thomas Junior High and Sackville High School were placed under hold and secure while RCMP attempted to locate the man, police said in a news release.
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police → place → release
Following the initial investigation, RCMP said officers determined a man did not chase any students.
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man → follow → students
The hold and secure was lifted at both schools around 12:45 p.m.
RCMP said efforts to locate the man continue and the investigation is ongoing.
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investigation → lift → man
Lockdown vs hold and secure
In general in Canada, a hold and secure occurs when there’s a threat in the general vicinity of a school, but not on, or very close to school property.
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hold → secure → property
Examples might include a crime in progress, police pursuit or search in the same neighbourhood as the school.
uncertain
Examples → include → school
The school’s outer doors are locked during a hold and secure but classes continue as normal inside.
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classes → lock → hold
Students are generally considered safe so long as they don’t venture outside.
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they → consider → ?
A lockdown is a more serious process and is initiated when a threat is near or inside a school.
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threat → initiate → school
During one, efforts are made to minimize access and visibility throughout the building.
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efforts → make → building
The school’s outer doors are locked and students are kept in classrooms or designated waiting areas.
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students → lock → classrooms
Lights are turned off, curtains or blinds are closed and all windows are covered to obscure visibility into classrooms.
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windows → turn → classrooms
Cellphone use is restricted and school phones are not answered.
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phones → restrict → ?
Inner doors are locked where possible and only emergency services personnel can enter or exit the building.
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personnel → lock → building
Staff members are designated to prevent anyone else from leaving the school.
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members → designate → school
School principals have the discretion to declare a lockdown, but usually do so on the advice of police.
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principals → have → police
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