A strange incident occurred at an East Vancouver school this morning, resulting in a lockdown.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) stated that the principal of Sir Richard McBride Elementary School, located at 1300 East 29th Avenue, called 911 around 10 a.m. today (November 24) to report that an unknown man had entered the school and went into a classroom.

Several students were present in the classroom while the man remained there.

Teachers evacuated everyone from the room, and staff initiated a lockdown for the entire school to ensure the safety of staff and students.

By coincidence, VPD school liaison officers happened to have been conducting lockdown training and drills at nearby Killarney Secondary School when the 911 call was made. Accordingly, officers were able to arrive at McBride within minutes.

Officers confined the man in the classroom and arrested him without incident.

The VPD stated that all staff and students remained safe.

The 32-year-old man was apprehended by police under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for psychiatric assessment.