Chilling online post leaves Adelaide parents concerned

A disturbing online post has sent parents at an Adelaide school into panic mode.

A photo of a firearm with the caption "shooting Playford up" spread like wildfire through the Playford International College community, prompting many parents to keep their kids home from school.

Police said the threat was a hoax and insisted in a statement they had no immediate concerns about the safety of students.

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However some parents rushed to collect their children upon hearing the news.

Many said they felt frustrated by a lack of communication from the school about the incident.

"It's pretty inadequate in this day and age to with all their ways of communication that they couldn't have communicated it a lot sooner," one parent said.

Most only learned of the threat from social media with a letter sent to parents at 1.30pm this afternoon.

"The department acknowledges the level of disruption, angst and distress that events of this nature can cause to students, staff and the wider school community," the letter reads.

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Within hours police had identified who they believe was the author of the post.

Officers raided the home of a 14-year-old Elizabeth Downs boy, who 9News understands is a student at the school.

Officers said they seized a gel blaster they alleged was used in the social media post.

The boy is now expected to face court on accusations of creating a false belief and possessing a firearm without a licence.

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