The Bridgewater Police Service arrested a 15-year-old girl on March 17, 2026, following an alert from international law enforcement about a planned attack on Park View Education Centre in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Officers took the teenager into custody after the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) provided information about an online plot to target students. The investigation began after authorities intercepted discussions between the local suspect and another youth in a different province.
Investigators believe the Bridgewater teen was working with a 14-year-old boy in Rivers, Manitoba, to carry out simultaneous attacks at their respective schools. The second youth was allegedly planning to target Rivers Collegiate before being stopped by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who arrested him after pulling over a school bus on March 16. Police say the two teens used online platforms to coordinate their plans for violence.
Officers executed a search warrant at a home in Bridgewater and found handwritten plans for the attack, imitation weapons including a roughly made imitation pipe bomb and assault rifle, and clothing featuring hate symbols. The 15-year-old suspect appeared in court on March 18, 2026, where she was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and uttering threats. The youth remains in custody while the legal process moves forward.
Local authorities and school officials were notified immediately to ensure student safety during the investigation. The police department credited the quick sharing of information between international agencies for stopping the threat before any students were harmed. Both schools were alerted to the situation to ensure the safety of students and staff.
