Calls have been made for immediate justice after bomb threats were made to “160 schools” in Northern Ireland this morning.
Up to 300 schools to date have reported to police receiving the same emailed message which contained a generalised threat. It is believed similar emails have been received by some schools across UK.
Police checks have not, at this time, resulted in anything untoward. Based on enquiries and information to date, police are treating this email, which originated from outside the UK, as a hoax.
Enquiries are continuing.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: “We take incidents of this nature very seriously and we understand the concern in the community, not to mention the disruption it has caused in some school communities and for students and parents.
“Our enquiries are ongoing, however, at this stage we consider risk to the public as low. 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.
“We urge everyone, in the meantime, to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to police immediately by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.”
The majority of schools remained open and some did close as a result of these threatening emails.
Call handlers from Police Scotland assisted PSNI with the volume of incoming reports on Monday morning.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lisburn North DUP councillor Jonathan Craig said: “First of all, I personally contacted St Colman’s school (Lambeg).
“It’s absolutely true, there was a threat, put into the school about a bomb, in the school, early this morning while kids were arriving.
“So the school principal had no option, but to get the school evacuated immediately.
“As it was a potential danger to children. Subsequently, when I contacted the Education Authority regarding this issue, I was informed that 160 schools across the province had received the same threat.
“They’d been in touch with the PSNI and I, and they were working closely with them, but the belief was that these are all hoax, bomb scares.”
He added: “You know, we all hoped and prayed that these days were long past us.
“Since this was a regular occurrence for all of us in our daily experience. And it’s terrible that someone would do something like this and target children and put fear into children.
“I just hope and pray that the PSNI investigate this properly, find the individual and prosecute, because [they] deserve anything that’s coming from the justice system regarding this.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police received reports today, Monday 19 October, of an email sent to a number of schools across Northern Ireland.
“As a result of this email, police are conducting urgent enquiries, and liaising with the schools in question. An update will be provided in due course.”
Earlier, Education Minister Paul Givan also confirmed the email was not being treated as a “viable threat”.
