Northern Ireland schools evacuated after mass bomb-threat email
Schools across Northern Ireland have been evacuated after a threatening email claimed explosive devices had been planted on school premises.
Children have been evacuated from schools across Northern Ireland this morning after a threatening email claimed that explosive devices had been planted on premises, with the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirming “urgent enquiries”, FarmingLife reports.
St Colman’s Primary School in Lambeg, Co Antrim, asked parents to “come immediately” and collect children just after 9am, reassuring them that “the children are all safe”, according to FarmingLife and BBC News NI.
Students at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution were evacuated “fire drill style”, Belfast Live reported via The Irish Sun, while Harpur’s Hill Primary School in Coleraine and Rosstulla Special School told parents to collect their children, FarmingLife reports.
Estimates of the number of schools targeted vary: FarmingLife reported around 100 schools had received the email, while DUP councillor Jonathan Craig told Belfast Live the figure stood at 160.
Mr Craig said: “There was a threat sent in about a bomb at the school early this morning while kids were arriving. The principal had no option but to evacuate immediately as there was a potential danger to children.” He added that police were working on the belief the threat was a hoax.
The PSNI said: “Police received reports today, Monday 19th October, of an email sent to a number of schools across Northern Ireland. As a result of this email, police are conducting urgent enquiries, and liaising with the schools in question. An update will be provided in due course.”
Who sent the threatening email remains unknown, The Irish Sun reports.
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