Some schools evacuated following threats
Scotland’s national police force said it is investigating “threatening” messages that have been sent to schools across the country.
Police Scotland said it was aware of the messages that had been sent to “a number of schools” in Scotland, with at least one local authority rolling out evacuation measures.
The force said the messages being treated as a hoax, with officers investigating the messages.
Schools in Northern Ireland also received threatening messages, which are understood to have been bomb threats. However, Stormont’s education minister, Paul Givan, said the threats are not being treated as viable.
In Edinburgh, schools hosting in-service days for teaching staff were evacuated following the messages.
It is understood that Fox Covet Primary, Leith Primary, Pirniehall Primary, Queensferry Primary, and St Andrew’s Fox Covert Primary were among those schools affected.
One Edinburgh primary school teacher, who asked not to be named, said staff were evacuated from Leith Primary at around 9.30am
She said: “There were about 50 or 60 adults in the building today, but the children were off because it was an in-service day.
“At about 9.30 this morning, a staff member came into the room and said ‘I don’t know how to tell you this but you need to get out of the building now.
“On the way out I asked the head teacher what was happening and he said they had received an email to say a bomb had been placed in the building.”
She added: “It’s caused a lot of disruption. The message is to work from home the rest of the day.”
Another teacher in Edinburgh described the experience as a “bit stressful,” with he school she was in also evacuated.
“We are all just a bit shaken up about the bomb threat, as you could imagine,” she said.
“It was just as well the kids were off today as that would have been a logistical nightmare getting them all picked up and taken home.
“We have all been sent home and are now just waiting to hear more regarding going back to school tomorrow when the pupils return from their holiday.”
In Northern Ireland, some schools have closed after receiving the email, however others have decided to stay open and are taking advice from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
The PSNI said it received reports regarding “an email sent to a number of schools across Northern Ireland,” adding: “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.”