Hoax bomb threat emails sent to hundreds of UK schools

Summarised from 3 outlets · 8 reports · Updated 12 Nov, 06:29 · Archive

Hoax bomb threat emails were sent to around 1,000 schools across the UK and Northern Ireland on Wednesday morning, prompting varied responses but police assessed them as non-credible.

Hoax bomb threat emails were sent to approximately 1,000 schools across Scotland, the rest of the UK and Northern Ireland shortly after 9am on Wednesday. The messages suggested bombs had been planted in buildings and were sent widely to distribution lists across these areas. Schools in Orkney, Aberdeenshire, the Highlands, Argyll and Bute and Shetland received the emails. By 10.30am, Police Scotland confirmed the messages had been assessed and were being treated as hoaxes.

According to details shared online, the sender identified themselves as "Mikhail Andropov" and claimed to be leader of the "Red Owl Group", threatening to "carry out a genocide against your people". A similar message was also sent to thousands of schools in Italy.

Police Scotland said: "Our enquiries 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 force advised there was no requirement to evacuate schools or keep children away from education based solely on the email content.

Schools responded differently to the threat. Many schools in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands evacuated pupils, while others activated emergency procedures with pupils moved outside temporarily before returning to class or being sent home. In contrast, Orkney and Shetland councils advised against evacuation. Orkney Islands Council confirmed all county schools received the messages but followed Police Scotland advice not to evacuate. In Shetland, none of the schools were evacuated, though parents questioned why they learned of the threat from news websites rather than from schools or the council directly.

John Finlayson, head of Highland Council's education committee, explained that individual schools were unaware the threat was widespread and dealt with it as a case-by-case incident. He noted that schools vary greatly in size and transport dependence, which influenced their responses. He expressed concern about hoax threats becoming a growing trend, saying they are "disappointing in terms of the disruption to the school day and to parents' lives."

Police Scotland's Cyber and Fraud Unit is carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the source of the messages and liaising with law enforcement partners across the UK and internationally.

How it is being reported

• School bomb hoax threatened ‘genocide against your people’Police Scotland confirmed yesterday (Wednesday) that the messages were “immediately assessed” and treated as a hoax.Shetland Times · 12 Nov, 06:03
• Everything we know so far after hundreds of schools sent ‘bomb hoax’ emailSchools in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands were among those who received the threatening message.Press and Journal · 12 Nov, 06:00
• Exclusive: Highland education chief explains why some schools closed over hoax bomb threats while others stayed openCouncillor John Finlayson said schools across the Highlands had to deal with plenty of concerning challenges throughout the day.Press and Journal · 11 Nov, 16:02
• No need to evacuate Orkney schools says local council after wave of hoax messages sent across the UKThe local council has been offering reassurances to pupils, parents and carers after threatening emails were sent to schools this morningPress and Journal · 11 Nov, 13:46
• ‘Distressing messages’ sent to Orkney schools in national ‘hoax’“Threatening” messages, thought to be part of a hoax, have been sent to all schools in Orkney. A number of schools across Scotland and the UK received the “distressing messages.” Police Scotland said the communications were “immediately assessed” as hoaxes. In a statement, the force continued: “Our enquiries have established that there is nothing to […] The post ‘Distressing messages’ sent to Orkney schools in national ‘hoax’ appeared first on The Orcadian Online .The Orcadian · 11 Nov, 11:16
• Updates as ‘bomb threat hoax’ sparks Aberdeenshire and Highland school evacuationsHundreds of schools across the north and north-east have been cleared out this morning after a threatening email was sent.Press and Journal · 11 Nov, 10:21
• Live: Schools close suddenly as pupils sent home amid emergency shutdownsPupils at Aberdeenshire and Highland schools have been evacuated due to 'unforeseen circumstances.'Press and Journal · 11 Nov, 10:21
• Highland school evacuated due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’Pupils have been evacuated from Nairn Academy and parents have been notified via text.Press and Journal · 11 Nov, 09:59

In this story: Police Scotland · Orkney Islands Council · Highland Council · Shetland Islands Council · John Finlayson · Aberdeenshire · Highlands · Orkney

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