The detention lasted about two hours. Police authorities sealed off all entrances to the facility and no one could enter or leave.
Numerous police officers from the Sûreté du Québec were also on site. “When we heard the news, at first we were all panicked, but now we are calm and calm,” a young girl told Le Quotidien. Several parents gathered in front of the school as the young people picked up their children.
Authorities withheld comment throughout the event, but Lac-Saint-Jean School Services Center leadership sent an email to parents early in the afternoon.
“We would like to inform you that all students and staff at Pavillon Wilbrod-Dufour are currently in the facility as a preventative measure. The Sûreté du Québec has established a preventive security perimeter around the school and is currently validating certain information. If your child has not yet gone to school, we ask that you leave them at home. The buses that arrived for the start of classes in the afternoon were directed to the Camille-Lavoie Secondary School parking lot, where staff will look after them. This is the most current information we have. We will keep you updated on developments as quickly as possible. »
For its part, the administration of the city of Alma had decided to close the Mario Tremblay Center and the multi-sports center in order to avoid an overflow of parents.
With information from Katherine Boulianne