Lockdown ends at New Plymouth Boys' High School following threat

A lockdown at New Plymouth Boys High School prompted by a threat made had ended.Police began packing away their weapons into vehicles and began pulling away from the school shortly after 1.30pm.Vernon, a parent who had been waiting outside the school in the rain, said he was delighted with the outcome.Similarly, Tess, a New Plymouth Girls High student who had been concerned about her boyfriend, was now looking forward to giving him a big hug.The school said the lockdown had lifted by 1.40pm.Police said the threat was made on Tuesday morning, first being alerted to it at 9.50am.Armed police at the school.ROBIN MARTIN / RNZ"Police are in the area working to determine the veracity of the threat, police said.Parents and caregivers wait outside New Plymouth Boys' High School.ROBIN MARTIN / RNZEarlier, a mum standing outside the school said she is concerned for her son who is inside.Parents said they had been sent no communication from the school, with more than an hour past since the lockdown began."Absolutely I'm concerned, my heart is going like the clappers, but obviously there's nothing I can do."As soon as I saw there was an incident happening, I came."New Plymouth Boys' High School went into lockdown on Tuesday.ROBIN MARTIN / RNZStudent Tess was waiting tearfully outside the school while her boyfriend was stuck in lockdown.Tess said she was really scared for her boyfriend's safety."I was walking back from my Math NCEA level exam, and I came up the hill and there was a load of cop cars coming."I am really concerned, just for the safety of my boyfriend personally, but also everybody inside."Police said they were still looking into the threat.