'Islamist' bomb threats close schools across Scotland and Northern Ireland

Schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland have closed after a bomb threat believed to be a hoax was emailed to hundreds of institutions.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said 'up to 300' schools had reported receiving the email threat, adding it had originated from outside the UK.

Paul Givan, Stormont's education minister, said the warning was signed 'Allahu Akbar' but was not understood to be viable.

He said the threat appeared to be from 'Islamists threatening that Sharia law will be brought into our country', adding it had caused 'huge alarm' in schools.

Police Scotland said similar threats had been sent to 'a number of schools' there and Glasgow City Council said it was aware of 148 schools receiving threatening messages in its local authority and some neighbouring areas.

Mr Givan added: 'At this stage, the advice to schools is that we're not treating this as a viable threat but it has clearly caused huge alarm.

'Some schools have closed as a result of this threat being received through formal communication channels to those schools, something that I condemn that there has been this level of disruption caused to young people's education.

'This is something that ought to be condemned by everybody, and I am hugely disappointed that for some schools they have had to close, but it is not something that we are regarding as a viable threat, but nevertheless, hugely disruptive and very distressing.'

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said its officers were urgently investigating and Mr Givan said PSNI bosses had met with the Education Authority this morning.

In a statement the Education Authority said it was 'aware that a number of schools across Northern Ireland have received a threatening email this morning'.

'We recognise the concern this may cause for school leaders, staff, pupils and families,' it said.

'We are engaging closely with the PSNI and will act on their advice. Communications have been issued to schools, and we continue to support school leaders and keep them informed.'

This is a breaking news story.