(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
It remains unknown if a series of bomb threats targeting schools in the Halton Region on Thursday morning are connected to similar threats previously made against schools and businesses in Cobourg earlier this year.
Halton Regional Police Service are investigating after nine schools across Oakville were targeted by bomb threats on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
Police said officers began responding shortly after approximately 6 a.m. after a generic threatening email was received by multiple school boards. The email identified several schools as targets.
The schools impacted included institutions within both the Halton District School Board and the Halton Catholic District School Board, along with a private school.
Schools named in the threat included:
Halton District School Board
- Oakville Trafalgar High School
- Iroquois Ridge High School
- Abbey Park High School
- White Oaks Secondary School
- Garth Webb Secondary School
Halton Catholic District School Board
- Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School
- St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School
- St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School
Private School
- Appleby College
Police said emergency response protocols were immediately enacted and officers conducted extensive searches at all of the schools identified in the email.
Following the searches, investigators confirmed that no explosive devices or credible threats were located.
The incidents bear similarities to a number of threats and swatting calls reported in Cobourg during April.
At that time, Cobourg Police Service investigated threats directed toward St. Mary Catholic Secondary School and C.R. Gummow Public School.
Cobourg Police described the incidents as swatting calls — false reports intended to trigger large emergency responses by police and other first responders.
Investigators in Cobourg later revealed that over a 10-day period there had also been numerous swatting incidents involving residences and businesses throughout the community.
Police stated at the time that investigators believed the incidents were linked to online exploitation and extortion schemes involving youth. According to investigators, the activity was believed to originate through interactions on social media platforms, online gaming services, and chat applications.
Cobourg Police also indicated investigators believed the source of those threats was overseas.
At this time, investigators in Halton Region have not publicly confirmed whether Thursday’s threats are connected to the incidents previously reported in Cobourg or elsewhere in Ontario.
Police continue to investigate the source of the threatening email.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
