Another Fan Expo, another round of false alarms about people with “guns” that turn out to be convention-goers in costume.

As the popular sci-fi, fantasy, horror and comic convention kicked off at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre Thursday, Toronto police responded to at least two calls about a person with a gun on public transit that turned out to be false alarms, police spokesperson Const. Caroline de Kloet confirmed.

Both were related to passengers on the way to Fan Expo, she said, adding that police must take all reports of a person carrying a gun seriously.

“It’s risky, I think, to have (a realistic-looking prop), but if that’s what people want to accessorize their costumes, that’s up to them,” de Kloet said.

The first incident happened on a GO Transit train on the Lakeshore West line; police got a call at about 10 a.m. from someone on board claiming a passenger was carrying a gun.

As the train approached Union Station, Metrolinx was ordered to hold it in place while officers investigated the call with guns drawn — alarming other passengers in the process.

“They were concerned about what was going on,” said spokesperson Anne-Marie Aikins. Few details were available, even to Metrolinx.

“And, initially, most of us didn’t have very much information to share, other than that there was a police investigation that had to take its course,” Aikins said.

Unconfirmed social media posts by passengers on a GO train show officers standing on a platform hefting what appear to be assault rifles.

On Twitter, Toronto police warned of a “large police presence” near Front St. and Bay St. concerning unconfirmed reports of a person with a gun, but later said the scene was clear.

Aikins was later told a person was found carrying a fake gun, who, “I understand, was on his way to FanExpo.”

The convention is prime time for costumed customers, Aikins said, alongside Halloween — and both events see a lot of people bearing fake swords, guns, and blasters that may look all too real.

“We’re all for having fun, we’re all for dressing up, but just use some common sense and caution if you’re going to use something that might be perceived as a weapon,” Aikins said.

She said anyone who suspects there’s a weapon on GO Transit should call police — even if not completely sure it’s real.

Despite Thursday’s call, Aikins said false alarms aren’t as common as they once were.

“I think especially today, with our heightened sensitivities, it’s important to be cautious when you’re dealing with anything that might look like a weapon.”

The second incident took place at the TTC’s Ossington subway station around 4 p.m., when, again, someone reported seeing another person with a gun. A post on Reddit suggested someone cosplaying as Master Chief from the Halo video game series sparked the call; there was a 10-minute delay on Line 2 as police investigated.

TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said the transit agency does not have any rules on what costumes or accessories passengers can wear and carry, but encouraged people to use “common sense.”

“If people are bringing replica guns and swords and those kinds of things on the system, then they need to apply some common sense and ensure that they’re not frightening other people unnecessarily,” Ross said.

“I think the same rules would apply if you were in the Eaton Centre or in a Tim Hortons or in a park or on the subway.”

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Ross added that this is the first Fan Expo-related weapon call on the TTC he’s heard of.

Fan Expo’s props and weapons policy asks that attendees “make sure due care is taken on your behalf to ensure any weapons or props, which could cause public alarm, are stored in bag or in a storage container” while travelling to and from the event. As well, replica firearms made from metal, solid resin, plastic or rubber are not allowed on convention grounds, and all other firearms must have orange safety tips on them.

The convention runs until Sunday.

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