Philippine police detain teen for online school threat

Philippine authorities have intervened to address a potential copycat school threat in Leyte province, days after a deadly shooting at a high school in Tacloban City left three students dead and 20 others wounded. Officials announced on Thursday, June 25, that a 14-year-old female student was identified and taken into custody for posting violent threats against her own school on social media.

The threat was neutralized after a tip from Senator Bam Aquino, who alerted Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on the evening of Wednesday, June 24, about online chatter regarding an impending mass shooting in Leyte. The Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group traced the threats to the student at Tolosa Leyte National High School, located approximately 24 kilometers south of Tacloban City. Police located the minor by 11 p.m. that same night.

Investigators found the student had created multiple Facebook accounts to disseminate a threatening message. One post, written in the local Waray language, warned recipients to prepare for an attack at the school, stating, "I will disrupt the school... Be prepared for whoever gets shot or stabbed." The posts spread...