ORILLIA, ON — Threats that led to the closure of multiple Ontario schools, including numerous schools in the Northwest in November, have resulted in charges being laid by the OPP against a resident of Morocco.
On Nov. 1, 2023, schools and other public facilities in the province received threatening messages indicating that bombs had been placed at their locations
The threats, which were accompanied by a demand for money in exchange for details about the explosives, resulted in the closure of ten schools in Thunder Bay and other communities in the Northwest operated by the Conseil scolaire de district Catholique des Aurores boréales .
No explosive devices were found at any of the threatened sites across the province.
OPP investigators worked with police in Belgium to obtain an arrest warrant for a man from Casablanca, Morocco, who was in Belgium at the time.
He was taken into custody last month.
In an announcement Wednesday, OPP said they have now charged the 45-year-old with two counts of uttering threats, two counts of mischief, and two counts of extortion.
They said they are consulting with the federal justice department to determine how to arrange for the accused to appear before an Ontario court.
