Laval Police (SPL) arrested four teenagers after a series of threats targeting Laval high schools over the past few days.

The police said the threats turned out to be hoaxes but still required school closures and a large police deployment.

The targeted schools are Poly-Jeunesse High School at the Cure-Antoine-Labelle north end of Laval, which faced threats on three occasions in the past nine days.

The police also said in a press statement: "To ensure safety within the building and conduct multiple searches, the police had to hold thousands of students."

The four suspected teenagers who were arrested attend one of the concerned schools, may face assault charges, two of them remain in custody while investigations continue, and the police do not rule out further searches and arrests.

Laval Police warn citizens that such hoaxes can have serious consequences, regardless of the person's age.

They said: "The police service also recognizes that this type of call can cause anxiety among citizens and create a feeling of insecurity, which is why we want to reiterate that measures have been taken in cooperation with the Laval Student Services Center, ensuring follow-up and support for those affected by these events."