Threats targeting UK and Irish schools dismissed as a hoax

Authorities in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland said a threatening email sent to hundreds of schools on Wednesday was a hoax originating from outside the United Kingdom. Read more UK man arrested over alleged cyberattack that disrupted major European airports The emails were ⁠reported after the evacuation of at least 300 schools in Italy. To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement.

Accept Manage my choices Irish ‌police said they were aware of a "generic communication" sent ⁠to a number of schools and they had assessed that the threat was not credible and ​that there should be no evacuation. Over 300 ‌schools in Northern Ireland were also sent a threatening email which was being treated as a hoax, police ‌in the British province said, adding that the email originated from outside the ​UK. "We take incidents of this nature very seriously and we understand the concern in the community, school communities ​and for students and parents," Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally ​said.

Irish police noted that there ​had recently been "increased activity in hoax and non-credible bomb threats", and advised the public ​to contact officers if they receive one. Police in Scotland said the messages were immediately assessed and treated as hoaxes. "Our enquiries have established that there is nothing ⁠to suggest that they represent a credible threat or that there ⁠is any wider ​threat to the public," their statement said. (FRANCE 24 with Reuters)