One building on campus was evacuated by police on Friday after a threatening message was discovered written on a washroom wall.
On Friday, December 2, 2022, just before 10 am Saanich Police received a report that a written message was found on a wall inside a washroom that threatened a shooting to take place that morning at the University of Victoria.
This prompted a quick and heavy response from the Saanich Police who also requested assistance from the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT) and the Integrated Canine Service. Officers contained the Cornett Building, which is where they suspected the threat may have been targeted.
Police were in constant communication with UVic Campus Security and other UVic staff to ensure that the procedure was done in a safe manner and that it kept students and faculty informed.
GVERT evacuated all persons from the Cornett Building and then conducted a safety sweep to ensure that the building was safe to occupy. Once this was done, students and staff were able to resume class as scheduled.
“We appreciate all of their patience and understanding during the entire course of this incident, which certainly would have been alarming,” said Cst. Markus Anastasiades.
Our Major Crime Unit is investigating this serious offence and is working with the Oak Bay Police Department to determine if there is a connection to similar messaging that was found in a washroom at a local high school on November 30.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Saanich Police Department at 250-475-4321 or report anonymously through the Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477.
File 22-22936
Cst. Markus Anastasiades
Public Information & Communications Officer
media@saanichpolice.ca