Several schools in the Antwerp municipality of Balen remained closed on Thursday after a young teenage girl threatened a school shooting via social media app TikTok.
Although the police were able to identify the suspect overnight, there are still no lessons being taught in primary schools Curieuzeneuzen and De Klimboom, among others, on Thursday.
"Around 05:00 this morning, the police raided the home of a minor," Balen mayor Balen Johan Leysen told VRT. "It concerns a pupil from one of the schools who threatened an attack on one of the primary schools on campus."
The pupil is an 11 or 12-year-old girl who threatened a shooting via a TikTok video, the local police stated. It likely has to do with disagreements between students that have been ongoing for some time. Some online bullying behaviour has been going on in that class in recent weeks as well, the school said.
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"In consultation with the management, it was decided last night not to teach in the schools on the Boudewijnlaan campus today," Leysen said. "It has been communicated that way and we will keep it that way, although the threat has now disappeared."
Care is provided for students who will come to school anyway, and there will also be psychological guidance.
"All agencies on campus will provide the necessary aftercare for the students, teachers and supervisors in the following days," the municipality said on social media. "The school emphasises that such behaviour will absolutely not be tolerated."
The school campus will reopen tomorrow Friday 19 January.
