More secondary schools threatened with shootings; This time in Nijmegen, Wijchen

Several secondary schools in Nijmegen and Wijchen have been threatened with school shootings. Posts are circulating on social media announcing an attack. The police are investigating, but the schools remain open as usual. The schools expect the threats to be “copycat behavior” after Amsterdam schools received similar threats on Tuesday evening, De Gelderlander reports.

One post shows a photo of a gun with extra bullets and the text “Tomorrow is NIjmegen’s turn.” It lists the schools Mondial College, Pro College, and Yuverta in Nijmegen and Wijchen. A second post shows a hand holding a gun and threatens Pro College specifically. There are also posts circulating about Maaswaal College in Wijchen.

According to the Gelderlander, one of the photos used in the threats seems to come from a 2020 Reddit post and doesn’t seem to have been taken in the Netherlands.

Pro College and Mondial College both informed parents about the threats. Mondial College stressed that the police found “no direct threat to our school and that the situation is being closely monitored.” Pro College said the threats were likely “copycat behavior” after Amsterdam schools received similar threats earlier this week.

Pro College wrote that it would understand if parents or guardians decide to keep their kids at home as a precaution. “We want to emphasize that the safety at school has not been compromised.” Lessons are continuing as usual.

The affected Amsterdam schools also remained open on Wednesday. “A number of schools in the city have received threats via various social media,” said Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam Rector Wendelien Hoedemaker in an email sent to parents, and seen by NL Times. The letter stated that the secondary school was one of those named in threats, but added that the mayor, police, and prosecutors in the Netherlands did not see a reason to close the schools on Wednesday.

“The police are investigating the origin of the messages and are patrolling the schools involved.”