Ottawa police are investigating two separate 'swatting' calls made to local high schools, a disturbing trend that forces large-scale emergency responses based on entirely fabricated threats.
Swatting — the act of making a false emergency call designed to trigger a heavy police response, typically including armed tactical units — has become an increasingly common form of harassment across North America. In Ottawa, two high schools were targeted in incidents now under active investigation by the Ottawa Police Service.
What Is Swatting and Why Is It Dangerous?
Swatting calls typically involve someone falsely reporting an active shooter, bomb threat, or hostage situation. The goal is to flood a location with police — often including SWAT teams — causing chaos, fear, and disruption.
Beyond the immediate trauma to students, teachers, and staff forced to shelter in place or evacuate, these calls drain emergency resources and put real lives at risk. Officers responding to what they believe is an active threat are placed in dangerous situations based on nothing more than a prank or targeted harassment.
In school settings, the psychological impact on young people can be lasting. Being locked down, separated from teachers, or watching heavily armed officers sweep through hallways is an experience no student should have to endure.
Ottawa Schools on Alert
Ottawa Police have not yet released the names of the schools involved or the specific nature of the false reports, but confirmed that two separate incidents are under investigation. Officers responded to both calls and determined they were unfounded.
This follows a broader pattern seen across Canadian cities, where schools have become frequent targets of swatting campaigns — sometimes carried out by students looking to cancel exams, sometimes by bad actors targeting specific individuals inside the building.
School boards across the Ottawa region have been working with police to improve emergency communication protocols, ensuring that staff can respond quickly while minimizing panic among students.
What Happens to Swatters?
In Canada, making false emergency calls is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code. Those convicted can face charges including public mischief, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. If the false call results in injury or significant disruption, charges can be more serious.
Despite the legal consequences, swatting incidents continue to rise nationally, partly because perpetrators often use voice-over-IP services, burner numbers, or anonymizing tools to mask their identity — making investigations complex and time-consuming.
Ottawa police are asking anyone with information about these two incidents to contact them directly or reach out anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Staying Safe and Informed
For Ottawa parents and guardians, it's worth checking in with your kids about what happened and how they're feeling. Schools are required to notify families when a significant security event occurs, and most Ottawa-area boards have mental health supports available for students who feel anxious afterward.
If you or your child witnesses suspicious behaviour — online threats, someone boasting about making a fake call, or anything related to these incidents — report it to Ottawa Police at 613-236-1222 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Source: CTV News Ottawa via Google News RSS
