Police treating threatening messages sent to schools as hoaxes

A number of threatening messages sent to schools across the country on Wednesday are being treated as hoaxes, police have said.

Police Scotland said the messages were sent to a number of schools in Scotland and across the UK.

After the messages were assessed, officers confirmed they are being treated as hoaxes.

A Police Scotland spokesperson 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.

“They have been sent widely to distribution lists across the UK and Northern Ireland, and our assessment remains that they do not represent a credible threat.

“Police Scotland’s cyber and fraud unit is carrying out extensive inquiries to establish the source of the messages and officers continue to liaise with law enforcement partners across the UK and internationally.”

It is understood schools across the country were evacuated on Wednesday due to the threats, but many have now been allowed to return to classes.

West Lothian Council said the police have “assured there is no imminent risk and advised that schools should continue with their day as planned. Schools in West Lothian are therefore not closed”.

Glasgow City Council also sent a letter to parents that said: “You may be aware of media reports this morning about a threatening email about a device in schools that has been sent to schools across the country – our police colleagues have confirmed that this is a hoax and that schools should not be evacuated.”

It comes weeks after a hoax bomb threat was sent to schools during an in-service day on October 19.