ST Bede’s College in Mentone entered lockdown last Wednesday, 4 September, while police investigated a “threatening” social media post. The school entered lockdown at 8.25am on police advice. At 9.40am the lockdown was lifted and students returned to class.
In a statement, Victoria Police said there is no ongoing threat at the Mentone school. “Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating a threatening social media post in relation to St Bede’s College. There is currently no threat to St Bede’s College in Mentone but investigations to determine who created the post are underway,” a Victoria Police statement read. “The post, which was reported to police, did not include threats against any particular school or person. If you have any concerns, please contact the school directly.” The News understands the post featured a gun.
St Bede’s principal Deb Frizza released a statement on the morning of the lockdown assuring that “all our students and staff are safe.” “At 8.25am this morning, St Bede’s College Mentone commenced lockdown on the advice of police as part of a police operation. At 9.40am the lockdown was lifted, and classes have resumed as normal,” Frizza said.
“Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating a threatening social media post. The post was reported to police about 11pm on 3 September. The post did not include threats against any particular school or person. Investigations to determine who created the post are underway. “There is currently no threat to St Bede’s College in Mentone. Thank you to all our community for your cooperation and understanding.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 11 September 2024