Timeline of school bomb hoax revealed, as education chiefs say false threats 'growing issue' they're trying to tackle
Hoax bomb threats to schools are a “growing issue” that authorities are working together to tackle, education bosses have said.
Speaking in the aftermath of yesterday’s false warnings to more than 300 establishments across Northern Ireland, the provincewide Education Authority (EA) is linking with the PSNI and the Department of Education to develop ways of addressing the problem if and when it happens again.
Yesterday’s incident was the second time fake threats were mass-emailed to schools around Ulster in less than four weeks. In contrast to the October situation, the new false warning didn’t provoke widespread evacuations and shutdowns, with most classes continuing normally after the message was quickly found to lack credibility.
Many parents were understandably alarmed, however, and it’s known that schools in parts of Scotland and the Republic of Ireland that were also hit with fake threats did clear pupils and staff from their buildings.
A spokesman for the EA, which oversees government-controlled educational establishments across Northern Ireland, has now told the News Letter: “We strongly condemn the malicious emails and the distress and disruption caused to school communities.
“This is the second such incident in less than a month. We fully appreciate the anxiety caused for children and young people, particularly those with special educational needs, their families and school staff.
“We are actively addressing the growing issue of malicious and hoax threats.
“Protocols and guidance are kept under ongoing review, and we will continue to work with the Department of Education, PSNI and sectoral partners to learn from these incidents and enhance timely, consistent information and support for schools and parents. In responding to any such scenario, the safety of children and colleagues must be the priority.”
Revealing a timeline of yesterday’s incident, the EA said schools across the province received the malicious emails at 9.11am, shortly after their day started.
Nine minutes later, the EA was notified of the problem and began working with the PSNI and Department of Education to coordinate a response.
At around 10am, the spokesman said, they told schools the warnings were “similar in nature to a previous incident that had been declared a hoax” and that while they weren’t aware of any evidence of a credible threat, people should still be vigilant.
That information was also shared on social media, while what was described as a “high volume of enquiries” started coming in to the body.
Shortly before 11.45am the PSNI confirmed the incident was a hoax, with the EA updating schools and social media of that five minutes later.
Stated the spokesman: “Notwithstanding the similarity to a previous hoax, formal consideration of the credibility or otherwise of any threats received is a matter for PSNI colleagues. Likewise, all EA communications issued must align to the PSNI’s advice and assessment.”
Yesterday’s false warnings are now being probed by both the PSNI and police in Scotland as part of a joint investigation by both forces. Among their lines of enquiry is whether there is a potential link between October’s mass hoax threat and the new one.
The people behind the emails have been roundly condemned by politicians and teachers’ union NASUWT, who stated the “utterly reprehensible” culprits should be ashamed of inflicting fear on children.