Police investigating threatening 'hoax' emails sent to schools from outside the UK
Police say the emails were a hoax and are tracing their source after more than 300 calls and dozens of school evacuations.
- On Monday, hundreds of schools across Northern Ireland, Scotland, Hungary, and Serbia received bomb threats that authorities confirmed were hoaxes originating outside Europe. Many establishments evacuated immediately, though no bombs were found.
- Northern Ireland Education Minister Paul Givan reported 160 schools received emails signed "Allahu Akbar" claiming to be "from Islamists threatening that Sharia law will be brought into our country and that there are viable devices within those school settings."
- Parents rushed to collect children within 30 to 40 minutes as schools operated on Police advice to treat threats as worst-case scenarios. Head teachers later complained of receiving "conflicting advice" from multiple agencies, complicating their response.
- Gabor Posfai, Hungary's interior minister, confirmed threats against over 70 schools in his country were unfounded. Serbia's state broadcaster reported more than 100 schools also received bomb threats.
- Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson stated Police are treating the matter as a hoax while enquiries continue. Authorities emphasized the threats caused significant alarm but are not currently considered viable risks to the public.
134 Articles
134 Articles
According to Northern Ireland Police, threatening emails have been sent to around 300 schools.
Ireland schools receive bomb threats with claims of Sharia law
Around 300 schools across Northern Ireland received threatening emails on Monday, October 19, prompting precautionary evacuations and police investigations. The messages reportedly threatened to bring Sharia law to the country and claimed that explosive devices had been planted inside school premises. Northern Ireland Education Minister Paul Givan said the email referred to Islamist threats and ended with the words “Allah Akbar”. Speaking at Sto…
Hundreds of schools in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Hungary and Serbia received bomb alerts on Monday leading to the evacuation of some of the institutions, the local authorities announced.
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