Schools across Scotland and Northern Ireland evacuated pupils on Wednesday after a threatening email prompted urgent police inquiries. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it received reports of a concerning email sent to a number of schools across the region and is conducting urgent inquiries.
Evacuations in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Children in Edinburgh were moved outside from around 10am, and hundreds of schools in Northern Ireland also received the email. In Kinross, pupils were reportedly seen under foil blankets after being evacuated, according to the Scottish Sun.
Invergordon Academy sent a text to parents saying it "will be closing for the remainder of the day." The message continued: "Pupils will be sent home with immediate effect. Those pupils that are unable to get home will be kept in the leisure centre until we can organise transport."
Police and education authority respond
A PSNI statement said: "Police received reports today, Wednesday 11th November, of a concerning email sent to a number of schools across Northern Ireland. As a result of this email, police are conducting urgent inquiries and liaising with the schools in question. An update will be provided in due course."
The Education Authority (EA) said the email has similarities with a hoax threat sent to schools across the region last month. 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. 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. We fully appreciate that any message of this nature is distressing and can assure schools, parents/carers and children and young people that we will provide a further update following engagement with police."
The incident comes weeks after a similar hoax threat caused similar scenes at UK schools. Investigations are continuing, and further updates are expected following engagement with police.
