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Police are treating threatening emails sent to schools in the north today, 19 October as a hoax. Up to 300 schools have reported receiving the same message, which contained a generalised threat, and some have faced disruption as a result. Education Minister Paul Givan has condemned those responsible, while police say they consider the risk to the public to be low.
Minister Givan said: “I want to absolutely condemn the actions of those who sought to disrupt our education system today by issuing threatening emails to our schools.
“The PSNI confirmed that it is treating these emails as a hoax, with similar messages understood to have been received by some schools elsewhere in the UK. I want to reassure schools, parents and pupils that, following extensive checks, the PSNI has not identified anything untoward.”
Police said the email originated from outside the UK. Checks have not, at this time, resulted in anything untoward, and enquiries are continuing.
The Minister acknowledged the impact on schools. He said: “I recognise that this incident has caused significant concern and distress for pupils, parents, school leaders and staff. I also understand that a number of schools have had to make decisions which has unfortunately led to disruption and, in some cases, temporary closures.”
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: “We take incidents of this nature very seriously and we understand the concern in the community, not to mention the disruption it has caused in some school communities and for students and parents.
“Our enquiries are ongoing, however, at this stage we consider risk to the public as low. We will continue to liaise with schools impacted and have been working closely with the Department of Education and the Education Authority this morning to provide reassurance.”
Minister Givan said schools do not need to report receipt of the emails. He said: “The PSNI and the Education Authority have been working closely this morning to provide reassurance and advice. Schools do not need to report receipt of these emails to the PSNI or the Education Authority, as the matter is already the subject of an ongoing police investigation.
“I would like to thank school leaders, staff, pupils, parents and the PSNI for their cooperation and professionalism in responding to this incident.”
Assistant Chief Constable Henderson added: “We urge everyone, in the meantime, to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to police immediately by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency.”
