They had just finished going through the motions of a lockdown drill when students and instructors at a west end adult learning centre were suddenly centre stage in a real life drama that drew scores of heavily armed officers and shut down a major section of Bloor Street for almost two hours.

It all started at the Bickford Centre at 777 Bloor St. W. at Christie just before 11am.  Apparently not everyone was made aware of the drill and someone became alarmed and called police, thinking an actual attack was in progress. 

"We took it very seriously," said Det. Sgt., Egidio Roseto.  "We had some information that there may be some people inside the school who were armed.  From our understanding now there was a lockdown drill, and maybe someone did not understand that it was a drill."

That soon culminated with gun fears and somehow a story began to circulate that the principal at the school was being held hostage.  It all turned out to be a big mistake, however, and after ETF agents carefully inspected the building, police revealed that there was no gun, no emergency, and the situation had been resolved.

That news came too late for dozens of worried people with loved ones inside.  Many gathered near the facility in tears.  Their fears were further heightened when ambulance attendants carted a stretcher past them. 

It turned out the stretcher was used to cart off a woman who became hysterical with fear during the ordeal.

"I see a lot of police officers, I see ETF, my heart is racing a mile a minute," said one mother, whose 3-year-old was inside at the time.

"The fact that it's a false alarm, I think somebody needs to improve there communications.   This affects a lot of people.  This affects wives, children, parents."

The Bickford Centre is an adult learning school that offers courses in English as a Second Language.