Scottish schools evacuated following hoax bomb threat emails

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 11:58 · Archive

Police are investigating after multiple schools across Scotland received threatening emails claiming explosive devices had been placed in buildings.

Police Scotland are investigating threatening emails sent to multiple schools across Scotland on Monday, October 19. The messages claimed that explosive devices had been placed in buildings. Police are treating the threats as a hoax.

Schools across several local authorities received the emails, including those in Glasgow, Edinburgh, East Renfrewshire and East Lothian. The messages targeted both primary and secondary schools. A number of schools evacuated staff in response to the threats, with staff at one Edinburgh school moved to a nearby church.

According to Edinburgh Live, as many as ten schools across Scotland were among those targeted. Since many pupils are currently on half-term holidays, only staff were in buildings at the time, with some scheduled for in-service training days.

East Renfrewshire Council confirmed that many of its schools had received the 'malicious threat' and that staff immediately followed relevant emergency procedures. After notifying police, the council said its schools were operating as normal.

BBC Scotland reported that schools in Northern Ireland also received similar emails claiming explosive devices had been placed in 160 schools. Northern Ireland's education minister said the threat was not being treated as a 'viable threat'.

How it is being reported

• Police investigating hoax threat emails sent to Scottish schoolsThe message was received by schools in areas including Glasgow, Edinburgh and East Renfrewshire.BBC Edinburgh East And Fife · 19 Oct, 11:49
• Police investigating 'threatening' messages to Scottish schoolsSome schools evacuated following threatsThe Scotsman · 19 Oct, 11:31
• Edinburgh schools evacuated this morning as 'hoax' bomb threat sent to schoolsEdinburgh teachers sent homeEdinburgh Evening News · 19 Oct, 11:18
• Edinburgh schools 'evacuated' and teachers sent home after 'threatening messages'Police Scotland are investigating.Edinburgh Live · 19 Oct, 11:17

In this story: Police Scotland · Glasgow · Edinburgh · East Renfrewshire · East Lothian · Northern Ireland · East Renfrewshire Council

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