160 Northern Ireland schools evacuated over bomb threat emails

Summarised from 7 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 11:14 · Archive

Around 160 schools in Northern Ireland received threatening emails claiming explosive devices had been planted on their premises, prompting evacuations.

Around 160 schools across Northern Ireland received threatening emails on Monday morning, 19 October, claiming that explosive devices had been planted on their campuses. The emails prompted evacuations at multiple schools as children arrived for the day. Parents at affected schools were told to collect their children immediately, with some children initially moved to alternative locations such as local church halls.

The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, a grammar school in Belfast, evacuated pupils in a fire-drill manner before police advised it was safe for lessons to resume. Rosetta Primary School in Belfast was among those evacuated as a precaution, with school staff moving children to a local church hall and reassuring parents that the children were safe.

Education Minister Paul Givan confirmed the scale of the incident at a press conference. He told reporters that the emails appeared to come from Islamists and contained threats about Sharia law being brought into the country. According to GB News and The Independent, the messages were signed off 'Allah Akbar'. Givan stated that the threats were not being treated as viable by authorities, despite the disruption caused.

A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said officers had received reports of the threatening emails and were conducting urgent enquiries while liaising with the schools in question. Police indicated they would provide updates in due course.

Givan expressed disappointment at some schools' decisions to close entirely in response to the threat. He advised schools to contact their local policing district commands and said that unless they had specifically identified an object on their premises, further action such as closure was not warranted. Despite this guidance, some schools remained closed as a result of receiving the formal communication.

Listburn North DUP councillor Jonathan Craig said the principal of one school had no option but to evacuate immediately given the potential danger to children. When he contacted the Education Authority, he was informed that 160 schools across the province had received the same threat. Craig believed the threats were hoax bomb scares and expressed concern that such incidents had returned, noting they had been a regular occurrence in the past.

The incident caused significant disruption to education across Northern Ireland on the morning it occurred, with hundreds of pupils affected by the evacuations and school closures.

How it is being reported

• 'Islamist' bomb threats close schools across Scotland and Northern IrelandPaul Givan (pictured), Stormont's education minister, said the warning was sent to 160 schools and signed 'Allahu Akbar'.Daily Mail · 19 Oct, 11:57
• ‘Islamist’ bomb threat sent to 160 Northern Ireland schools – education ministerPaul Givan said the warning is not being treated as a ‘viable threat but it has clearly caused huge alarm’.Evening Standard · 19 Oct, 11:15
• Police investigating after 160 Northern Ireland schools receive bomb threatsOver 150 schools in Northern Ireland received bomb threats which are not being treated as viable, Stormont education minister Paul Givan has said.The Independent · 19 Oct, 11:03
• Northern Ireland schools evacuated after 'Islamist' bomb threats as parents told to 'come immediately' to collect their childrenMore than 150 schools in Northern Ireland have received an "Islamist" bomb threat over email, resulting in the evacuation of hundreds of pupils. St Colman's Primary School Lambeg in Lisburn issued an immediate warning, calling on parents to "come immediately" and collect their children, though insisted: "Please don't panic the children are all safe". A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed they had received reports of the threatening emails. "Police received reports today, Monday 19th October, of an email sent to a number of schools across Northern Ireland," they…GB News · 19 Oct, 10:55
• Police investigate 'non-viable' bomb threats sent to schools in Northern IrelandPolice are investigating bomb threats sent to more than 150 schools in Northern Ireland, which are not being treated as viable.Sky News · 19 Oct, 10:52
• UK schools evacuated after 'threat' as pupils' parents told 'come immediately'Around 160 schools across the nation have been affected.Daily Express · 19 Oct, 10:17
• Northern Ireland schools evacuated over 'explosive device planted on campus'A number of schools in Northern Ireland have been evacuated this morning following a 'threat'The Mirror · 19 Oct, 10:14

In this story: Northern Ireland · Royal Belfast Academical Institution · Police Service of Northern Ireland · Paul Givan · Jonathan Craig · Rosetta Primary School · St Colman's Primary School Lambeg · Education Authority

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