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Police investigating threatening 'hoax' emails sent to schools from outside the UK
Police say the emails threatened bombs and Sharia law, and officials said up to 300 schools in Northern Ireland reported the same message.
- On Monday, October 19, 2026, police in Northern Ireland and Scotland launched urgent investigations after up to 300 schools received emailed bomb threats originating from outside the UK, which authorities are treating as a hoax.
- The threatening emails claimed an 'explosive device' was hidden in buildings and warned that 'Sharia law will be established,' signed 'Allahu Akbar.' Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan characterized the messages as 'Islamist' threats.
- While some schools evacuated pupils immediately, others remained open after consulting police. Givan confirmed 160 schools in Northern Ireland were subject to the communications, condemning the disruption caused to young people's education.
- PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson stated officers "understand the concern in the community" while confirming risk to the public remains low. Police continue liaising with affected schools to provide reassurance.
- Similar hoax threats targeting schools were reported last week in the Republic of Ireland, while concurrent incidents in Hungary and Serbia suggest a pattern of coordinated digital harassment across European borders.
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79 Articles
300 schools in Northern Ireland received an email containing a threat.
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·France
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Al Arabiya+2 Reposted by 2 other sources
Schools in UK, Hungary, Serbia sent hoax bomb warnings
·Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Total News Sources79
Leaning Left11Leaning Right8Center26Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Center
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources are Center
58% Center
L 24%
C 58%
R 18%
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