Police arrest Hamilton man after investigation into online threat of Toronto school shooting

Toronto police have made an arrest after a man allegedly threatened to commit a shooting at an unnamed school on an online chat last week.

The suspect was on an online chat with another man on Oct. 16 and said he was in Toronto and had a gun, police said in a news release Wednesday.

He also said he was going to commit the shooting at an unnamed school in Toronto later that day, police said.

Police earlier told the Star that the online conversation took place on a platform where users aren't identified or required to log in. The two men did not know each other, police said.

Police told the Star a number of schools" were put in hold and secure across the city as police across the city were tasked to patrol schools in their area.

Police said they executed a search warrant Tuesday in the Hamilton area.

Tygar Allen Campbell, 28, of Hamilton, was charged with uttering threats, possession of a weapon, two counts of a possession of a firearm or ammunition and a hoax regarding terrorist activity.

On Monday, schools in the Eglinton Avenue West and Allen Road area were also placed in hold and secure after police received reports of an armed man walking in the area. Police said Wednesday that this investigation is not related to the online threat.

With files from Cheyenne Bholla

Libaan Osman is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach him via email: losman@thestar.ca