Girls' College threat sparks lockdown

Marlborough Girls’ College has gone into lockdown.

The school has shut its doors and students are being kept inside as a precaution, with no one leaving or entering the building.

Armed police cordoned off the area  shortly after 2.30pm and Mclauchlan Street has been closed to traffic.

The move comes in the wake of a series of phone threats towards schools across the country today and against the Blenheim based school yesterday.

But in a statement this afternoon, police say they don’t believe the threat is linked.

“Police are responding following a report of a threat at Marlborough Girls' College. Police units are in attendance.

“Marlborough Girls' College has gone into lockdown and other schools in the area have voluntarily locked down.

“The public are asked to avoid the area.

The threat is not believed to be linked to threats toward other schools made this week.”

By 3.21pm worried parents had gathered at the armed cordon desperate for news and cars trying to gain access were being turned around.

Around 40 people are now waiting outside the cordon as police let Bohally Intermediate students leave the area.

Parents and caregivers say they were getting texts from students inside the building, scared about what was happening.

Students at Bohally School and nearby Springlands School were also being kept inside as a precaution but students were allowed to leave Bohally School at 3.35pm.

In a post on social media, Marlborough Girls' College Principal Mary-Jeanne Lynch says the lockdown was instigated following advice from the police.

All students and staff were safe inside the building, she says.