Four schools and one preschool in Avesta were locked down on Wednesday morning after reports of a person with a weapon-like object nearby. Police announced at 10:20 that the item was a toy gun and called off the operation. No crime is suspected in connection with the incident.
Several schools in central Avesta were secured on Wednesday morning after reports of a person with a weapon-like object nearby. The affected schools included Domarhagsskolan, Karlfeldtgymnasiet, Markusskolan and Bergsnässkolan, plus Baldershage preschool, with about 1,500 pupils impacted. The local bathhouse Metropoolen was also locked down.
Police spokesperson Gabriel Henning confirmed officers had identified the individual, who carried a toy gun. “We have checked the person the calls are about and this person is said to have been wearing some type of toy weapon,” he said. The operation was called off with no crime suspected.
Parents gathered anxiously outside the schools due to limited initial information. School chief Jerker Olofsson stated that updates had been sent to guardians. Municipal councilor Blerta Krenzi described the lockdowns as a safety precaution. Security measures were also taken at a senior fair ongoing at Avestaparken.
