Police are investigating multiple bomb threats targeting schools across parts of Northern Ontario, including in the Timmins area.
At this time, there is no reason to believe any schools in Algoma District were targeted.
Today, schools in all four boards in the Timmins area are closed.
OPP confirms that threats were made towards multiple schools in different boards in the northeast and northwest regions. The threats demanded payment, and OPP say there's no evidence of actual devices.
"As a precaution, the majority of the targeted schools have been closed while the investigation continues. Parents are encouraged to contact their schools or school boards for more information. In addition to local officers, the OPP Cyber Investigation Team is engaged," said police in a news release.
All schools in the four Timmins-area school boards are closed today.
The boards cover a vast area in northeastern Ontario. The catchment areas vary slightly for each board but generally extend from Hearst to Temiskaming Shores to Timmins.
Conseil scolaire catholique de district des Grandes Rivières confirmed in a Facebook post that its board received a bomb threat overnight.
District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1) and Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l'Ontario say their boards did not receive a direct threat.
The Northeastern Catholic District School Board has not said whether or not the threats targeted its facilities. In a statement, the board said its schools and board office are closed due to an emergency situation and that OPP advised them to close.
In Thunder Bay, 10 schools operated by the Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales are closed.
Anyone with information is urged to call OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.