Hoax bomb threats target schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Italy

A fresh wave of hoax bomb threats targeted hundreds of schools across Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday, leading to precautionary evacuations at some locations. Police in Scotland reported that approximately 1,000 schools, ranging from Dumfries in the south to Aberdeenshire and Orkney in the north, received the bogus warnings. Meanwhile, at least 300 schools were affected in Northern Ireland, with similar communications sent to schools in the Republic of Ireland.

Earlier on Wednesday, police estimated that at least 470 schools were impacted in Scotland. Officials moved quickly to reassure parents and staff that the threats were not genuine, noting they were similar to hoaxes reported last month. A Police Scotland spokesperson stated: “Our inquiries have established that there is nothing to suggest that they represent a credible threat or that there is any wider threat to the public.”

The spokesperson added: “We understand how distressing messages of this nature can be for pupils, parents, carers and school staff, and the concern they can understandably cause. Our advice is that there is no requirement to evacuate schools or keep children away from education based solely on the content of the emails. They have been sent widely to distribution lists across the UK and Northern Ireland and our assessment remains that they do not represent a credible threat.” Police Scotland’s cyber and fraud unit is now working with security and law enforcement agencies both in the UK and overseas to identify those responsible.

Across Italy, the education ministry reported that an email containing a hoax bomb threat was sent to approximately 6,000 schools on Wednesday, resulting in hundreds of evacuations. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that current checks indicate “no element has emerged that would suggest there is a concrete danger.” Writing on Facebook, Meloni noted: “The reports instead appear to be linked to a strategy aimed at generating alarm and concern, which is currently the subject of all the necessary in-depth investigations.”

Italian media reports indicated the email contained the phrase “we have come to annihilate you” and was signed by “Mikhail Andropov, leader of the Vilayat of Misoginistan.” Antonello Giannelli, president of the national association of headteachers, described the threat as “clearly fake.” He added: “This episode shows how much irresponsibility, when combined with the extraordinary communicative power of the tools we have today, can cause damage and disruption on a large scale. We hope that full light will quickly be shed on the origin of these threats and that those responsible will be identified.”

In Scotland, authorities instructed schools to readmit evacuated pupils and continue classes. Dumfries and Galloway council confirmed that children were sent home after most schools received the messages, while Highland council reported that some institutions chose to “activate their emergency protocols.” Glasgow council informed parents that the claims regarding planted devices were false, stating: “Our police colleagues have confirmed that this is a hoax and that schools should not be evacuated.” An Edinburgh council spokesperson confirmed that schools were “briefly evacuated as a precaution this morning, following receipt of threatening messages,” adding that schools remain safe.

In Northern Ireland, education officials advised schools to stay open unless otherwise instructed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). A spokesperson for the education authority said: “As always, schools are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the 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.”

Assistant Chief Constable at the PSNI, Anthony McNally, provided further reassurance, stating: “We take incidents of this nature very seriously and we understand the concern in the community, school communities and for students and parents. Our inquiries are ongoing. However, at this stage, we consider the risk to the public as low.” Northern Ireland’s education minister, Paul Givan, had previously remarked that last month’s hoaxes appeared to be “Islamist” and were signed “Allahu Akbar,” though there was no official confirmation of their origin. In Ireland, the Garda Síochána confirmed it had assessed the threat as “not credible” and did not order any evacuations.