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The account later posted a blurry photo of a child, and a dimly lit dining room with furniture covered in sheets.

Photo by Instagram

In responding to comments, The Arbiter also wrote “You’ll be the first to die,” and “Killing is an act of mercy.”

The Arbiter’s bio says he or she is not malicious, but wants to “better” society.

“I will determine whether you are worthy of this life.”

Responding to The Arbiter’s posts, Instagram users’ reaction ranged from amused to unimpressed, speculating about whether the account had prompted the lockdown.

“School shootings aren’t funny to joke about … this isn’t Columbine,” wrote one person.

“Glad I skipped today,” quipped another.

One student said they heard over social media that people dressed as clowns were going to attack the school.

For about 90 minutes, students were in “full lockdown mode.”

“We were told ‘This is real, this isn’t a practice drill,’ ” Zack Pond said.

Doors were locked and students were told to sit as quietly as possible away from windows.

Pond said it was the first lockdown he had been in at school.

“When you see it on social media and then it actually happens at your school, it’s a bit worrying,” he said.

The last of the armed police left the school at 2:15 p.m.

None of the students reported seeing any clowns.

Creepy clown sightings have become a phenomenon in recent months. Sightings of people dressed as clowns lurking on the sides of roadways in South Carolina were reported by media in August. Since then, the practice has expanded across the United States and into Canada.

On Tuesday, police in Nova Scotia were called to investigate after a photo on social media appeared to show a clown standing on a sidewalk outside a Halifax high school.

In that case, investigators did not uncover related threats or anything criminal in nature.

Police in Truro, N.S., have also said they are aware of threats posted to Facebook that involve clowns and related to two local schools.

With files from Juris Graney

pparsons@postmedia.com

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