Students in lockdown after 'gun' threat
Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date published: 19 April 2017
THOUSANDS of students were put in lockdown after a "gun" threat was made against Tameside College.
An anonymous social media user threatened to arrive at the college with a loaded firearm at 11am yesterday.
The post was made in reply to a college tweet welcoming students back to lessons after the Easter break.
Just an hour later a similar threat was made about an attack at Bury College.
Police later confirmed both threats were "not credible".
Locked
Around 2,000 students and members of staff were locked inside classrooms while police dealt with the threat to Tameside College, on Beaufort Road, Ashton.
All gates at the site were locked and students arriving late were told to go home.
Worried parents gathered outside the college waiting to hear updates while their children were locked inside.
Evacuated
Students were evacuated from all sites at the college and asked to go straight home at around 11.30am.
The college said the evacuation was a precaution and evening classes were cancelled, but the college would be open as normal today.
A spokeswoman for Bury College said no lockdown procedure took place, but security was tightened as a result of the threat.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "Enquiries were conducted and the threats were deemed not credible."
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1Suspect arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after firearms discharge in Glodwick
- 2Oldham Coliseum rescue ‘very much back on the table’
- 3School where kids were suspended after performing Nazi salutes downgraded by Ofsted
- 4Milan Bar in Lees and The Bank at Delph close doors with immediate effect
- 5Council issues update on disabled parking after complaints