Bomb threats to Quebec schools allegedly made by Outaouais teens

Quebecprovincial police say four Outaouaisteenagers facing chargesin relation to bomb threats against schools in the Outaouais and Ottawa regions are now facing chargeslinked to bomb threats made against 71 schools acrossQuebec and in Ottawa on Tuesday.

After being charged with mischief yesterday, the teens nowface four more charges:

• Uttering threats to burn, destroy or damage Quebec schools.
• Uttering threats to cause death or harm to Quebec students or employees.
• Intent to injure or harm by means of telecommunications information known to be false.
• Conspiring to commit an indictable offence.

Sret duQubec Capt. Guy Lapointesaidadditional charges could follow as theinvestigation progresses.

Hesaid it was too early to suggesta motive.

• Outaouais bomb threat suspects to appear in court
• 71 Quebec schools targeted by bomb threats

The four teens, three males and one female aged 16 and 17,have been released to their parents under strict conditions until their next court appearance on Nov. 26.

Those conditions are:

• They must appear in court as required.
• They must keep the peace and maintain good behaviour.
• They must stay at their parents' home with a curfew between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.unless they have written permission from their parents or for the purposes of work or school.
• They must not use a cellphone unless under direct supervision of a parent.
• They must not use the internet unless under direct supervision of a parent or a school administrator.
• They must not communicate directly or indirectly with each other.

The four teens arefrom Wakefield, Chelsea and Ange-Gardien.

71 schools threatened

On Tuesday morning, 71 schools acrossQuebecand in the Ottawa region received a threatening anonymous email, which led to evacuations, closures and searches.

The threatening message was signed by a party identifying itself as the "Red Sceptre." The note spoke out against the actions of unionized teachers in Quebec and Ontario, and threatened that bombs would be placed in schools, CEGEPsand buses.

Police did not find a bomb in any of the schools.