Police investigating 'threatening' hoax messages to Scottish schools

Police Scotland said it was investigating. Picture: PA | PA

Scotland’s national police force said it is investigating “threatening” messages that have been sent to schools across the country, forcing some to evacuate.

Police Scotland said it was aware of the messages that had been sent to “a number of schools” in Scotland, with at least one local authority rolling out evacuation measures.

The force said the messages being treated as a hoax, with officers investigating the messages.

Police Scotland said it was investigating. Picture: PA | PA

Schools in Northern Ireland also received threatening messages, which are understood to have been bomb threats. However, Stormont’s education minister, Paul Givan, said the threats are not being treated as viable.

It is understood primary and secondary schools across several local authorities, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde, Perth and Kinross, and East Lothian were among those to receive messages.

In Edinburgh, schools hosting in-service days for teaching staff were evacuated following the messages.

It is understood that Fox Covet Primary, Leith Primary, Pirniehall Primary, Queensferry Primary, and St Andrew’s Fox Covert Primary were among those schools affected.

One Edinburgh primary school teacher, who asked not to be named, said staff were evacuated from Leith Primary at around 9.30am

She said: “There were about 50 or 60 adults in the building today, but the children were off because it was an in-service day.

“At about 9.30 this morning, a staff member came into the room and said ‘I don’t know how to tell you this but you need to get out of the building now.

“On the way out I asked the head teacher what was happening and he said they had received an email to say a bomb had been placed in the building.”

She added: “It’s caused a lot of disruption. The message is to work from home the rest of the day.”

Another teacher in Edinburgh described the experience as a “bit stressful,” with he school she was in also evacuated.

“We are all just a bit shaken up about the bomb threat, as you could imagine,” she said.

“It was just as well the kids were off today as that would have been a logistical nightmare getting them all picked up and taken home.

“We have all been sent home and are now just waiting to hear more regarding going back to school tomorrow when the pupils return from their holiday.”

In a statement, the City of Edinburgh Council confirmed the threats were a hoax, and said that the incident had left the local authority “hugely frustrated.”

Councillor James Dalgleish, the local authority’s education convener, said: “While I’m obviously relieved that this is has been confirmed as a hoax, I’m hugely frustrated that someone would target schools and young people in this way – causing unnecessary disruption right across the UK.

“With it being an in-service day here in Edinburgh, the impact on our pupils was thankfully more Iimited but that doesn’t take away from the stupidity of this person’s actions.

“I am, however, reassured that our procedures were properly followed and that, as far as possible, we were able to put alternative arrangements in place.”

In several parts of Scotland pupils are still on holiday and in others only teachers are in school for an in service day.

A spokesperson for East Renfrewshire Council, where pupils returned to school on Monday after the October break, said many of its schools had received a “malicious threat” and staff immediately followed relevant procedures.

They added: "After notifying Police Scotland, the communication is being investigated as a hoax, and our schools are operating as normal.”

A message sent by Perth and Kinross Council to parents and carers said some of the local authority’s schools and nurseries had received the threatening email.

It stated: “Similar emails have been received by schools across the country and reported to Police Scotland. They are being investigated as a hoax communication, and importantly, there is currently know information to suggest any cause for concern.

“We know reports like this can be worrying for families. As children and young people prepare to return next week, please be reassured that their safety and wellbeing, and that of our staff, remains our highest priority.”

A similar message sent by East Dunbartonshire Council to parents and carers stated: “Schools across Scotland have received anonymous messages this morning. As soon as we were aware of these, we liaised with Police Scotland who are treating them as a hoax and investigating the source. The safety of our pupils and staff is always our priority, and we will continue to take advice from Police Scotland.”

Inverclyde Council, where staff were attending in-service days, said its schools had “responded as appropriate,” adding that it expected its schools fo be open as normal on Tuesday.

In Northern Ireland, some schools have closed after receiving the email, which claimed that an “explosive device” had been put into 160 schools. However, others have decided to stay open and are taking advice from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

The PSNI said it received reports regarding “an email sent to a number of schools across Northern Ireland,” adding: “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.”