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Police Making ‘Urgent Enquiries’ over Email Sent to Schools
Police say the emails are a hoax as schools evacuate and close, with officials reporting up to 300 affected in Northern Ireland.
- On Monday, October 19, 2026, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Police Scotland received reports of threatening emails sent to hundreds of schools across both regions. Authorities are treating the messages as a hoax.
- Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan confirmed 160 schools in Northern Ireland received the email, which claimed an 'explosive device' was on-site and threatened that 'Sharia law will be brought into our country.' Givan described the message as 'Islamist.'
- Schools across the UK evacuated staff and students, with parents at some locations asked to 'come immediately' to collect children. At Leith Primary in Edinburgh, staff were evacuated around 9.30am, though children were absent due to an in-service day.
- PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson stated the police 'understand the concern in the community' but consider the risk to the public 'low.' Police Scotland confirmed the emails originated from outside the UK and are being investigated as a hoax.
- The Education Authority continues supporting school leaders while investigating the incident. Officials condemned the 'deliberate attempt to cause significant disruption to daily life,' urging communities to remain vigilant as pupils prepare to return next week.
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Dozens of schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland received reports of bomb threats on Monday, police and authorities said.
More than 150 schools in Northern Ireland have receive "Islamist" bomb threat
According to a report from the German Press Agency (DPA), Northern Ireland Education Minister Paul Givan has disclosed that more than 150 schools across the region received an “Islamist” bomb threat on Monday morning, with the total confirmed at 160. The communications, which police do not consider credible, claimed the presence of viable explosive devices […]
Approximately 160 schools in Northern Ireland received bomb threat e-mails on Mondays, and several education units in Scotland also received threat messages, which...
Coverage Details
Total News Sources51
Leaning Left11Leaning Right6Center18Last UpdatedBias Distribution51% Center
Bias Distribution
- 51% of the sources are Center
51% Center
L 32%
C 51%
R 17%
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