Police link Pickering school threats to online predator group targeting children

Police in Durham Region, Ontario, say a series of threats at a Pickering elementary school are linked to an international online network of predators that targets children as young as eight.

The Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) has connected four incidents at William Dunbar Elementary School since January to a group known as "The Com", short for "The Community". The most recent, on 27 January, placed the school into lockdown followed by a hold and secure.

Chief Peter Moreira described the group in a joint letter to parents, issued with the Durham District School Board (DDSB) on Tuesday, as one that pressures victims into harmful or unsafe behaviour, including sharing inappropriate photographs or hurting themselves or other people. "These groups use grooming, manipulation, intimidation, and coercion to exploit youth, which can lead to violent and/or criminal behaviour," the letter said.

What police say about the group

Const. Nicholas Gluckstein told reporters that "The Com" is an emerging network of coordinated online predators with no single specific goal. He said members have previously been known to launder money and carry out cryptocurrency thefts, but the group's focus is hard to pin down because its members largely stay anonymous.

He said hoax emergency calls are sometimes used as a distraction while the group pursues another intended target, and that the group operates on social media and gaming platforms such as Discord and Minecraft, where members may pretend to befriend children or feign romantic interest to build trust. It is not known how many members the group has, but Gluckstein said its growing prevalence has prompted warnings from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States. "It's an extremely dangerous group, they are very tech-savvy," he said.

Gluckstein said the group has not been linked to threats at any other school in Durham Region, and he was not aware whether other Canadian police forces are investigating it.

Warning signs for parents

In an earlier public warning, issued on 13 October 2026, DRPS said the groups target youth aged eight to 17 across platforms including Discord, Telegram, Snapchat, Roblox, Minecraft, Twitch and Steam. Investigators say contact typically begins with friendship or romantic attention before fear, guilt or intimidation are used to manipulate young people into actions they may not understand the seriousness of. These, police say, have included creating or sharing exploitative images or videos, self-harm or harm towards others or animals, hoax 911 calls and online attacks.

Police urged parents and caregivers to watch for encrypted apps used without their knowledge, withdrawal, secrecy or mood changes, declining school performance, secretive device use, interest in extreme online ideologies, and new contacts the child seems unusually attached to or afraid of. Several indicators together, rather than one alone, may warrant attention, the force said.

Next steps

The letter to parents came a day after some parents held a rally at the school calling for better communication and stronger safety protocols, which the DDSB said it intends to reinforce in the coming weeks. Board spokesperson Galen Eagle said cybersecurity presentations with DRPS are planned at the school next week, and that the board's mental health supports are available to students and families.

Police are asking anyone who notices concerning online activity to report it to DRPS on 1-888-579-1520, and say parents who suspect their child is being targeted should save all communication and contact investigators immediately.

Families who want to know more can read about the latest developments, checking whether you are eligible to claim, guidance for young people and the full case files.