Police have said they are treating a threatening email sent to hundreds of schools across Northern Ireland as a hoax. The message has been sent to more than 300 schools in the region.
The Education Authority (EA) said the message has "similarities" with a bogus threat sent to schools across the region last month. Similar emails have been received by some schools in Scotland, and police in the Republic of Ireland also said they were aware of a "generic communication" sent to a number of educational establishments.
Police say risk to public is low
Police said the email originated from outside Northern Ireland and is being treated as a hoax. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally said: "We take incidents of this nature very seriously and we understand the concern in the community, school communities and for students and parents."
"Our enquiries are ongoing, however, at this stage we consider the risk to the public as low," he added. "We will continue to liaise with schools impacted and have been working closely with the Department of Education and the Education Authority this morning to provide reassurance."
Schools advised to remain open
The Department of Education advised schools in Northern Ireland to remain open "unless otherwise advised by the PSNI". The EA statement said: "We are aware that another threatening email message has today been sent to a large number of schools in NI."
"The message has similarities with a bogus threat sent last month, which was declared a hoax by PSNI," the statement continued. "EA is liaising with police on this latest message. At this stage, we have not been made aware of any evidence of any credible threat to schools."
"Investigations are continuing. It is for PSNI to determine the credibility or otherwise of any such message. As always, schools are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to PSNI."
Reassurance for schools and parents
A message sent to parents at one school, seen by the Press Association, said it had been advised there was no credible threat and that the school would stay open following a check of the premises. Last month, a number of schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland closed following a hoax bomb threat.
In a social media post, Alliance Party MLA Paula Bradshaw said on Wednesday: "I strongly condemn the reckless bomb threats sent to schools this morning. Such actions are unacceptable, causing fear and distress among pupils, parents and staff."
A Garda spokesperson said the force was "aware of a generic communication that has been sent to a number of educational establishments" in the Republic of Ireland. The spokesperson said: "An Garda Síochána assess this threat as not credible and is not advising any educational establishment to evacuate. Gardaí are engaging with a number of educational establishments."
