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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: viper37 on September 21, 2016, 09:50:41 AM

Title: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: viper37 on September 21, 2016, 09:50:41 AM
That's weird.  One or two schools (ok, there might not be more than that over there...) evacuated due to a bomb threat, that happens, but here it seems a tad more serious.

Some Nova Scotia colleges were also evacuated.
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2016-09-21/article-4646338/Prince-Edward-Island-schools-being-evacuated/1 (http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/News/Local/2016-09-21/article-4646338/Prince-Edward-Island-schools-being-evacuated/1)

Press conference from the RCMP at noon to learn more.  I hope it wasn't an over-reaction.

QuoteHalifax Regional Police responded to a call around 8 a.m. to Nova Scotia Community College - Institute of Technology campus in Halifax's north end "after the campus received a threatening message from an anonymous person."
This sounds like the usual bullshit that happens every week somewhere in the country, but usually, they simply get the students out, search the place, get everyone back in.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: frunk on September 21, 2016, 09:52:04 AM
Quote from: viper37 on September 21, 2016, 09:50:41 AM
I hope it wasn't an over-reaction.

I hope it was an over-reaction.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: CountDeMoney on September 21, 2016, 11:16:24 AM
Didn't think exams started this early.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: viper37 on September 21, 2016, 01:41:34 PM
An anonymous message sent by fax...  Wow.  Evacuate all schools over that?  That was over-reaction.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: Maladict on September 21, 2016, 02:16:23 PM
I don't know. Someone got their hands on a fax machine, that shows determination.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: mongers on September 21, 2016, 02:27:19 PM
Quote from: viper37 on September 21, 2016, 01:41:34 PM
An anonymous message sent by fax...  Wow.  Evacuate all schools over that?  That was over-reaction.

I think the teachers just wanted to save the students the horror of trying to understand technology not related to smart-phone and that they couldn't get a app to print faxes.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: viper37 on September 21, 2016, 02:29:47 PM
 :lol:
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: Barrister on September 21, 2016, 03:01:42 PM
Are faxes that antiquated?  We still get tons of faxes...
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: mongers on September 21, 2016, 03:18:16 PM
Quote from: Barrister on September 21, 2016, 03:01:42 PM
Are faxes that antiquated?  We still get tons of faxes...

Until recently there were a lot in the Home counties, but hunting has taken a toll.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: The Brain on September 21, 2016, 03:34:23 PM
Quote from: Barrister on September 21, 2016, 03:01:42 PM
Are faxes that antiquated?  We still get tons of faxes...

OK CdM.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: derspiess on September 21, 2016, 04:39:07 PM
Ouch.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: CountDeMoney on September 21, 2016, 04:46:07 PM
HEY NOW

OOH IS THAT A ROLL OF THERMAL
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: dps on September 21, 2016, 05:05:19 PM
Quote from: viper37 on September 21, 2016, 01:41:34 PM
An anonymous message sent by fax...  Wow.  Evacuate all schools over that?  That was over-reaction.

Yeah, but you said that you hoped it wasn't an over-reaction.  Thing is, if it's not an over-reaction, than means that all the schools actually got attacked.  So basically, you were saying that you hoped somebody blew up all the schools.

Of course, back when I was in school, that was the almost universal hope of all students.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: viper37 on September 21, 2016, 11:17:34 PM
Quote from: Barrister on September 21, 2016, 03:01:42 PM
Are faxes that antiquated?  We still get tons of faxes...
you're working for the governement...
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: viper37 on September 21, 2016, 11:22:31 PM
Quote from: dps on September 21, 2016, 05:05:19 PM
Quote from: viper37 on September 21, 2016, 01:41:34 PM
An anonymous message sent by fax...  Wow.  Evacuate all schools over that?  That was over-reaction.

Yeah, but you said that you hoped it wasn't an over-reaction.  Thing is, if it's not an over-reaction, than means that all the schools actually got attacked.  So basically, you were saying that you hoped somebody blew up all the schools.

Of course, back when I was in school, that was the almost universal hope of all students.
What I meant, was that I hoped they evacuated all those schools because they got a serious lead on an imminent threat, or that they actually found explosive devices in one school.  Not because they received a fax.  You don't evacuate schools for that, you sent police officers with dogs and whatever equipement they need to inspect the school.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: Richard Hakluyt on September 22, 2016, 01:58:58 AM
Back in the old days the IRA used to use codewords that were unknown to the general public to let the security services know if a threat was genuine. Seems rather gentlemany and quaint, looking back on it, given our opponents nowadays.
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: mongers on September 22, 2016, 06:41:52 AM
Quote from: Richard Hakluyt on September 22, 2016, 01:58:58 AM
Back in the old days the IRA used to use codewords that were unknown to the general public to let the security services know if a threat was genuine. Seems rather gentlemany and quaint, looking back on it, given our opponents nowadays.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/phone-codes-that-prove-bomb-threats-are-real-1275833.html (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/phone-codes-that-prove-bomb-threats-are-real-1275833.html)

Quote
Phone codes that prove bomb threats are real

Sunday 30 March 1997 00:02 BST|


It was an unprecedented move by the IRA, writes Kim Sengupta. The coded warning about last week's Wilmslow bombings was given neither to the police nor to a media organisation but to an elderly woman seemingly picked at random.

Mervyn Jones, the Chief Constable of Cheshire, whose force dealt with the Wilmslow incident, said he was "amazed" at the new tactic, and the anti-terrorist branch at Scotland Yard were left scratching their heads about the Provos' action.

The use of code-words is essential to the police if they are to save lives before a bomb explodes. But officers need to be sure the codes come from "genuine" terrorists, rather than cranks and time-wasters.

The procedure for organising codes has been long established. Codes alter periodically by agreement between the Provisionals and the security forces, both sides knowing that a failure in communications could be catastrophic. The IRA pass on a chosen name to the Gardai in Dublin, who in turn give it to the RUC Special Branch in Belfast. From there it is disseminated to forces on the mainland. Liaison is also held with a number of news organisations.

In Northern Ireland, however, the complication is that the IRA are not the only bombers. Because of the number of factions, up to six code-names could be in use at a given time.

None of the paramilitaries who wants to establish a bomb code is turned away. But this policy can sometimes lead to almost surreal problems. One detective recalled: "A few years back, a fairly obscure Protestant group phoned up with a bomb warning code-name. They kept updating it and each one got more sectarian. Finally they came up with 'F--- the Pope', until the officer dealing with them pointed out that, with Catholic officers in the service, a code-name like that was 'more likely to lead to an explosion than prevent one'."

Terrorism expert Professor Paul Wilkinson said that while the system was an essential safeguard. "It's like when terrorists warn about police about a bomb so they can clear the area,"he said. "Sometimes it's nothing like enough time - but you have to be grateful for any warning at all."
Title: Re: Prince Edward Island schools evacuated
Post by: CountDeMoney on September 22, 2016, 12:20:27 PM
Anti-choice goofballs used to phone in bomb threats from our main lobby pay phones.

Even funnier were the calls from the BPD, who used to call us about OMG I'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED hangups to 911, only to find out they were from the dayroom pay phone in the psych ward.