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Scottish schools evacuated after hoax bomb threat emails

Summarised from 5 outlets · 17 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 15:58 · Archive

At least 470 schools across Scotland received threatening emails on Wednesday morning and some were evacuated, but police confirmed the threats were hoaxes.

Schools across Scotland received threatening emails on Wednesday morning, with police confirming that at least 470 schools had been targeted. Some schools evacuated pupils as a precaution, though most local authorities said schools were operating as normal by the end of the day. Police Scotland assessed the messages and confirmed they were hoaxes with nothing to suggest a credible threat.

Edinburgh and some West Lothian schools evacuated on Wednesday morning after the threatening emails were received. A parent at Royal High High School confirmed students were asked to take an extended break, while teachers at primary schools also reported evacuations. However, West Lothian Council said Police Scotland had assured them there was no imminent risk and advised schools to continue with their day as planned. Most West Lothian schools therefore remained open.

Schools in Fife were also affected by the threats. Dumfries and Galloway received the emails and some schools were evacuated as a precaution. Specialist cyber crime officers are working to identify the source of the messages, which were sent to both primary and secondary schools.

Police Scotland said: "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." Similar bogus emails were also sent to around 300 schools in Northern Ireland.

This is the second hoax bomb threat incident in recent weeks. A similar message was sent to schools on 19 October, generating over 300 police calls and causing significant school absences after parents kept children home. Local authorities had marked these absences as unauthorised after police confirmed that threat as a hoax.

Jackie Reid, Edinburgh Council's service director for education, wrote to parents following Wednesday's incident. She acknowledged the messages had caused alarm and distress, particularly given the second incident in recent weeks, but stated: "Our top priority is keeping your child safe and well at school. Police Scotland confirmed that there is no requirement to keep your child or young person away from school based on the content of the emails."

Separately, Queensferry High School in Edinburgh closed on Wednesday afternoon after a suspicious item was discovered on the premises. Police Scotland assessed the item and confirmed it was a toy. The school reopened on Thursday as normal. Edinburgh Council confirmed this discovery was separate and unrelated to the hoax emails.

Scottish schools evacuated after hoax bomb threat emails
Image: The Scotsman

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How it is being reported

In this story: Police Scotland · Edinburgh Council · West Lothian Council · Royal High High School · Queensferry High School · Jackie Reid · Scotland · Northern Ireland

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log