Hoax bomb threats sent to around 1,000 Scottish schools

Summarised from 3 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 18:08 · Archive

Around 1,000 schools across Scotland received threatening emails on 11 November, which police assessed as hoaxes with no credible threat.

Around 1,000 Scottish schools received threatening emails on 11 November, which police immediately assessed as hoaxes. The messages were also sent to schools across the rest of the UK and Northern Ireland. Despite the hoax classification, some schools evacuated their pupils and staff shortly before 10am, with reports of evacuations in Glasgow, Inverclyde, Edinburgh and Perth.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland 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.' Police acknowledged the distress such messages cause to pupils, parents, carers and school staff. They advised that there is no requirement to evacuate schools or keep children away from education based solely on the emails' content.

The messages were sent to broad distribution lists across the UK and Northern Ireland. Police Scotland's Cyber and Fraud Unit is carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the source of the messages and is liaising with law enforcement partners across the UK and internationally. Glasgow City Council's Executive Director of Education, John McGhee, confirmed that police had assessed the threat as a hoax and that the council would continue working with police on the investigation.

How it is being reported

• Everything we know after 1,000 Scottish schools receive threatening emailsAround 1,000 Scottish schools received a threatening email that police are treating as a hoax.Glasgow Times · 11 Nov, 19:55
• Around 1,000 Scottish schools targeted by threatening emails as police investigatePolice Scotland has confirmed around 1,000 schools received threatening hoax emails, sparking evacuations as officers investigate the source.The Herald · 11 Nov, 18:20
• Around 1,000 Scottish schools sent threatening emails as police issue updateAround 1,000 Scottish schools received a threatening email earlier today.Glasgow Times · 11 Nov, 17:23
• Police issue new statement on hoax bomb threats sent to 'a thousand' schools across ScotlandPolice have said there is "nothing to suggest" that this morning's threats "represent a credible threat".Glasgow Live · 11 Nov, 17:20
• Schools across Scotland sent hoax 'bomb threats' as police advise not to evacuateToday's messages are being treated as a hoax.Glasgow Live · 11 Nov, 11:21
• LIVE updates as threatening messages sent to schools across ScotlandWe are bringing you the latest updates after threatening messages were sent to a number of schools across Scotland and elsewhere in the UK this morning. Police Scotland says the messages are being treated as hoaxes and there is currently nothing to suggest they pose a credible threat. Follow our updates as we await further information on whether Glasgow schools have been affected.Glasgow Times · 11 Nov, 10:41

In this story: Police Scotland · Glasgow City Council · Scotland · UK · Northern Ireland · Mark Sutherland · John McGhee

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