The Toronto Police Service has charged a 17-year-old boy for allegedly threatening to attack Oakwood Collegiate Institute, with fears he might have acted on the 27th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre.

Detective Len Nicholson said Wednesday that on Dec. 1 someone in the United States tipped off the force about a threat, directed at a Toronto school, on a blogging site.

Nicholson said the Montreal massacre — the horrific killing spree of Dec. 6, 1989 — was mentioned in the alleged threat, a detail that made the police’s investigation more urgent.

On that day in 1989, 14 women at École Polytechnique de Montreal — 13 students and a school budget clerk — were murdered by gunman Marc Lépine, who committed suicide following the attack; four men and 10 women were also wounded.

Lépine’s suicide note claimed feminists ruined his life; however, Nicholson said there was nothing gender-specific included in the blogging site threat.

Toronto police sourced the blog post back to a computer belonging to the Toronto District School Board itself; the school board’s IT security unit was then able to figure out where the computer was and who was using it, Nicholson said.

Officers raided the suspect’s home in the early hours of Tuesday morning and seized several weapons — a machete, two swords, four knives, and arrows — along with computer equipment and clothing; all of them items that can be purchased legally at a hardware store. Nicholson said the teen’s plan allegedly involved concealing his weapons under his clothing while en route to the attack.

The suspect faces one count each of uttering threats of bodily harm and uttering death threats. As he is a minor, his name cannot be disclosed per the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

He appeared in court Tuesday morning and was released on bail with “strict conditions” at that time, Nicholson said. He will not be allowed to go back to school and is permitted to use a computer under supervision.

“We believed that there was a great consideration that he was going to do this,” Nicholson said. “That’s why we had to act quickly and make sure that this was stopped . . . I do believe this was a serious threat.”

Nicholson said the teen has obtained a lawyer and was not speaking with police.

As of Wednesday evening, police believed the suspect acted alone — but aren’t entirely clear on why he posted the threat. Nicholson said the investigation is going to look into whether bullying at the school was a factor.

The TDSB was informed of the alleged threat after school on Monday afternoon, according to spokesperson Ryan Bird. He confirmed the suspect is a TDSB student, but wouldn’t say if he attends Oakwood Collegiate.

Bird said that before classes started on Tuesday morning, the TDSB had been informed by police that a person had been apprehended. He said that meant no additional precautions were needed at the school.

On Wednesday, Bird said a letter was sent home with students and an announcement was made at Oakwood. He noted that counsellors will be made available to students if needed.

In his letter sent home to parents and students, the school’s principal Steve Yee wrote that the well-being of students and staff at the school is a “top priority.” He pointed out that a number of safety measures are in place at Oakwood including more than two dozen security cameras and a school safety monitor. “Be assured that we will continue to take every precaution to ensure the safety of students and staff,” he wrote.

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The principal confirmed that the school will continue to work with the police with the investigation however possible. While he invited questions, Yee asked that parents and students keep in mind that “because this is a police matter, there is much that we cannot share or do not know.”

TDSB Ward 9 Trustee Marit Stiles said she would be reaching out to the school and families to provide whatever support she could.