The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is treating the threatening email as a hoax after more than 300 schools reported receiving the same message, with the Education Authority saying it has similarities to a bogus threat sent last month.
The PSNI said more than 300 schools had reported to police receiving the same emailed message on Wednesday, 11 November. Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally said enquiries are ongoing but that the risk to the public is considered low. The Department of Education advised schools to remain open unless otherwise advised by the PSNI.
The Education Authority said the email has similarities to a hoax threat sent last month. Stormont's Education Minister Paul Givan said the threat was Islamist and had been signed off with the phrase Allahu Akbar. Police confirmed the latest email originated from outside the UK. The EA said it had not been made aware of any evidence of a credible threat to schools.
It is understood some schools evacuated. Victoria Primary School in Newtownards, County Down, said the school was evacuated in the morning but reopened about an hour later after guidance from the department.
Police Scotland said threatening messages were sent to schools in Scotland and across the UK and are being treated as hoaxes. An Garda Síochána said it was aware of a generic communication sent to a number of educational establishments and assessed the threat as not credible.
Alliance assembly member Paula Bradshaw condemned the "reckless bomb threats sent to schools this morning", while Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan said the latest reports of sinister threats made to schools this morning were despicable.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The emails caused fear and disruption in school communities, with some evacuations, despite being deemed hoaxes.
- The incident mirrors a similar mass threat last month, raising concerns about the recurrence and impact on students, parents and staff.
- Police treat the matter as a hoax but ongoing inquiries highlight the resources required to respond.
Background
In October 2024, hundreds of schools in Northern Ireland received emails threatening that an explosive device was located within them. Those threats were also declared hoaxes by the PSNI, and were said to have originated from outside the UK. Education Minister Paul Givan described the October threat as Islamist in nature.
Key Perspectives
- Paula Bradshaw (Alliance assembly member): condemned the "reckless bomb threats sent to schools this morning", saying "Such actions are unacceptable, causing fear and distress among pupils, parents and staff."
- Pat Sheehan (Sinn Féin MLA): said the "latest reports of sinister threats made to schools this morning are despicable", adding that "It is completely unacceptable that school communities have once again been left facing this level of fear, uncertainty and disruption."
What to Watch
- Whether the PSNI identifies the source of the emails or links them to the October hoax.
- Any further updates from the Education Authority or police on credibility assessments.
- Potential for similar threats to recur, given the pattern of hoax emails originating from outside the UK.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedPolice are treating the threatening emails sent to hundreds of Northern Ireland schools as a hoax.BBC Northern Ireland: “Police investigating threatening emails sent to schools across Northern Ireland are treating the matter as "a hoax".”
- SupportedMore than 300 schools reported receiving the same emailed message.BBC Northern Ireland: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said more than "300 schools to date have reported to police receiving the same emailed message".”
- SupportedThe PSNI says the risk to the public is low.BBC Northern Ireland: “"Our enquiries are ongoing, however, at this stage we consider risk to the public as low."”
- SupportedThe Education Authority said the message has similarities to a bogus threat sent last month.BBC Northern Ireland: “Earlier the Education Authority (EA) said the "message has similarities with a bogus threat sent last month" which was treated as a hoax by the (PSNI).”
- SupportedPolice received reports about the email on Wednesday, 11 November.The Independent UK: ““Police received reports today, Wednesday 11th November, of a concerning email sent to a number of schools across Northern Ireland.””
- SupportedThe Department of Education advised schools to remain open unless otherwise advised by the PSNI.BBC Northern Ireland: “The Department of Education advised schools to remain open "unless otherwise advised by the PSNI".”
- Partly supportedPaul Givan said the threat was Islamist and had been signed off with the phrase “Allahu Akbar”.The Independent UK: “At the time, Stormont’s education minister Paul Givan said the threat was “Islamist” and had been signed off “Allahu Akbar”.”
- SupportedPolice confirmed the latest email originated from outside the UK.BBC Northern Ireland: “The police said the email originated from outside the UK.”
- SupportedThe Education Authority said it had not been made aware of evidence of a credible threat to schools.BBC Northern Ireland: “"At this stage, we have not been made aware of any evidence of any credible threat to schools," it said.”
- SupportedVictoria Primary School was evacuated in the morning and reopened about an hour later after departmental guidance.BBC Northern Ireland: “Victoria Primary School in Newtownards in County Down said the school was evacuated in the morning but reopened about an hour later after guidance from the department.”
- SupportedPaula Bradshaw condemned the “reckless bomb threats sent to schools this morning”.BBC Northern Ireland: “In a social media post, Alliance assembly member Paula Bradshaw condemned the "reckless bomb threats sent to schools this morning".”
- SupportedPat Sheehan said the “latest reports of sinister threats made to schools this morning are despicable”.BBC Northern Ireland: “Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan said the "latest reports of sinister threats made to schools this morning are despicable".”