Menacing gun post sends St Bede’s College into lockdown

A 17-year-old boy was arrested but later released with a warning after an alarming gun threat posted on social media prompted a lockdown at the school’s Mentone campus.

St Bede’s College in Mentone was forced into lockdown on Wednesday. Picture: Nicki Connolly

A teenage boy who allegedly posted a terrifying image of a gun, prompting a school to go into lockdown, has got away with a warning.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said a 17-year-old Hampton boy was arrested on Wednesday afternoon by the Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit.

“Detectives arrested a boy in relation to a post on social media which allegedly made possible threats towards a teacher from a Bayside school,” she said.

“The threats were non-specific and not targeted at an individual school or person.”

The boy was later released from custody and given a caution.

It comes after St Bede’s College in Mentone was forced into lockdown for more than an hour on Wednesday morning.

The Catholic all-boys secondary school sent a text to parents informing them that all students and staff were safe following the incident.

The lockdown came after a terrifying image of a gun was posted to social media on Tuesday night with the caption: “I’m unloading mags on my teacher”.

The photo shows what appears to be a 9mm Glock 18 pistol or replica.

A ziplock bag appears to contain mostly .22 LR ammunition, which is not compatible with a Glock 18.

The lockdown came after this image was posted to social media. Picture: Facebook

Principal Deb Frizza speaks to media. Picture: NewsWire / Nicki Connolly

A parent told 3AW his son had hidden in the school’s toilets during the incident.

St Bede’s principal Deb Frizza said the Mentone campus commenced the lockdown at 8.25am “on the advice of police as part of a police operation”.

“At 9.40am the lockdown was lifted and classes resumed as normal,” she said.

“Thank you to all our community for your co-operation and understanding.”

Parents could be seen anxiously standing by to pick up their kids along Dixon St just after 10am.

The Herald Sun understands students were allowed to call parents and asked to be picked up following the lockdown.

One parent said her child called saying he felt unsafe.

“Now I’m picking up two other kids … they don’t feel safe,” the parent said.

St Bede’s College’s Mentone campus was forced into lockdown on Wednesday morning. Picture: Supplied

Victoria Police issued a statement about 10.20am saying there was currently no threat to the school.

The statement said Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit detectives were investigating a threatening social media post.

“The post was reported to police about 11pm on September 3,” it said.

“The post did not include threats against any particular school or person. Investigations to determine who created the post are underway.”