Kenora (Rajeev Sharma) — The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have launched a major investigation after nearly a dozen schools across the Kenora District were targeted by bomb threats early Friday morning, March 6, 2026. The threats, which began surfacing around 7:00 a.m. local time, triggered immediate emergency protocols across the communities of Dryden, Red Lake, and Sioux Lookout, forcing several campuses to close as a precautionary measure before students arrived for the day.
The North West Region OPP confirmed that 11 separate schools received the warnings, prompting a coordinated sweep of the affected properties. School staff, supported by OPP detachment members, conducted comprehensive interior and exterior walkthroughs at each site to identify any potential hazards. Following several hours of intense searching, police officials announced that no suspicious items or explosive devices were located, and the buildings were deemed safe for eventual reopening.
“The safety of our communities is our number one priority,” the OPP stated in an official release on Sunday, March 8. The North West Region Crime Unit is now leading the criminal investigation, working closely with the affected school boards to trace the origin of the threats. Authorities are treating the incident with the utmost seriousness, noting the significant disruption caused to families and the potential psychological impact on the student population.
While the immediate threat has been neutralized, the OPP is encouraging anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward. Witnesses or individuals with knowledge of suspicious activity on the morning of March 6 are urged to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. For those wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers. The investigation remains active as police look into whether these threats are linked to similar hoaxes reported in other Canadian jurisdictions recently.
