Complaints filed after Facebook bullying claims
Nova Scotia RCMP say they are investigating two complaints against a man who claims he is part of a bullying group that pushes teenagers to commit suicide.
A person on Facebook, using the name Justin MacKay, has purported he is the leader of a group called Libya Torial that allegedly drove three Nova Scotia girls to kill themselves.
RCMP are investigating his claims.
"The RCMP is taking it very seriously," said Const. Tammy Lobb, a spokeswoman for the Nova Scotia RCMP.
"A risk assessment will be performed throughout the course of this investigation, but at this time we do not believe the public is at risk."
When contacted by CBC News on Tuesday, a man who identified himself as MacKay's father denied the allegation that his son had bullied three girls to the point of suicide.
"No he hasn't, and no comment," said the man, who lives in Salmon River.
CBC News has not been able to independently verify who created the account under Justin MacKay's name.
Debbie Clark said she had seen the original message attributed to Justin MacKay, as well as a subsequent one.
"The day after this one, it said, 'There's going to be three more next in line,'" Clark told CBC News.
"I was just like, 'Oh my God, is he going to try to get three more young people to commit suicide?'"
Clark reported the online comments to MacKay's employer, while her husband contacted the police.
"I really don't think anybody should be taking any chances. Every avenue should be investigated," she said.
Wayne MacKay, the head of Nova Scotia's task force against cyberbullying, said cyberbullying should be made a crime.
"Surely we don't have to wait until somebody dies or is injured before we do something," he told CBC News.
MacKay said potential cases of online harassment or intimidation are difficult but not impossible to investigate, adding the current case proves police and online service providers should be working more closely together.
"It can be difficult but there are usually other ways to track it down," he said.
"My understanding is that not too much is really completely eliminated from computers."