A threatening call that Peel police said turned out to be a hoax sent five schools in Peel region in lockdown or hold-and-secure mode Tuesday morning.

Peel police are considering releasing the audio of Tuesday’s call to help identify the person who phoned in the fake threat, said Const. Lily Fitzpatrick.

She warned “swatting,” or phoning in fake threats to try to trigger a big police response including tactical SWAT teams, is a “serious criminal matter” and a waste of police and paramedics’ resources.

“This is something that has to stop. I can’t see how this is remotely funny,” Fitzpatrick said.

Police had received a call from someone early Tuesday saying people were armed and on their way to Gordon Graydon Senior Public School in Brampton to harm people, Fitzpatrick said.

As a result, Gordon Graydon Senior Public School was put in lockdown while nearby Madoc Drive Public School, Harold F. Loughin Public School and Father C.W. Sullivan School were placed in hold-and-secure mode. All four are located in the Rutherford Rd. N. and Vodden St. E. area and were instructed to lock their doors around 8:25 a.m.

Allan A. Martin Public School in Mississauga, near the QEW and Ogden Ave., also went into hold-and-secure mode for around two hours starting at 8:30 a.m. because Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School is nearby and police were initially unsure which Gordon Graydon the threat was directed at.

In both cases, school outer doors are locked. Lockdowns are a higher level of security, where the threat is considered to be inside or very close to the school, so students are kept in safe areas, blinds are closed and lights turned off.

Classes had not started when the lockdown and hold-and-secures began, meaning there were only a few students and staff inside the buildings, Peel District School Board spokesperson Carla Pereira said.

Several heavily-armed police units and K9 units as well as tactical ambulances attended Gordon Graydon, but a subsequent investigation did not turn up any suspects or weapons and police now believe the call was a hoax.

The lockdown and hold-and-secures were lifted shortly after 11 a.m. and students and staff were allowed into the building again.

Peel police are asking anyone with information to call (905) 453-2121, ext. 2231.

This is the second major swatting call in the GTA within a weekend — police in York region responded to a false call in Richmond Hill over the weekend.

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