Teen’s Facebook Photo Leads to ‘Mass Exodus’ at School
A number of parents have pulled their kids out of school this week after a Facebook photo of a student holding a semi-automatic weapon made them fear for their children’s safety.
A teenage student at Royton and Crompton School in Greater Manchester, England, posted a profile photo to Facebook earlier this year that showed him smiling while holding an AK-47 rifle with his finger on the trigger, according to the Guardian. In the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks, the boy joined thousands of Facebook users who overlaid their profile photos with the French flag, as a show of support and respect for the victims. But teachers who saw the boy’s picture flagged the police, and some worried parents pulled their children out of school on Monday and Tuesday.
STORY: Mom of Paris Suicide Bomber Speaks Out
“There was a mass exodus,” one father told the Daily Mail. “Mums and dads were just walking in and out of the school all day, unchallenged. … When you see another child in your son or daughter’s class posing with a gun, then you don’t take any chances.”
But police say no crime has been committed, and that students are not in danger. “Police have spoken to the individuals concerned where it was deemed no offenses have taken place,” a police spokeswoman said in a statement, according to the Guardian.
STORY: Dad and His 12-Year-Old Recall Escape From Paris Concert Hall
In a letter to parents posted on the school’s website, administrator Dr. Kevin O’Hagan tried to assure the community that students were safe at school. According to the letter, the boy first posted the “inappropriate Facebook profile picture” in August. It was taken earlier this year during a visit to Pakistan, where individuals with a license are allowed to own firearms, according to the Manchester Evening News. But after seeing the photo with the French flag on Monday, school officials “immediately contacted the child’s parents,” as well as the police, O’Hagan said. “Police visited the school. They have fully investigated the matter and confirmed that no criminal offense has taken place.”
The photo has since been taken down. “The child and family were fully cooperative and are hugely upset that offense has been caused,” O’Hagan wrote in his letter. “They stressed their disgust at the Paris attacks, quickly deleted the Facebook account and wish to express their regret at what happened. I hope you are assured that the safety of all pupils and staff is our highest priority at this school and I want to take this opportunity to reassure parents and [guardians] that your children are completely safe here.”
If anything, O’Hagan said, the photo should serve as a reminder “of the need to use social media appropriately and safely at all times.”
Photo: MEN Syndication
Please follow @YahooParenting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Have an interesting story to share about your family? Email us at YParenting (at) Yahoo.com.
