Northern Ireland hoax bomb threat to schools: International terrorism expert rejects theory of 'Islamist' origin
An international expert in terrorism says has played down claims that the hoax bomb threat delivered to 300 schools in Northern Ireland this week was truly Islamist in nature.
Similar emails were sent to hundreds of schools across Scotland, Hungary and Serbia at the same time.
Education minister Paul Givan described the NI email as “Islamist” and noted it was signed off “Allahu Akbar”.
The email text read: "Today, with Allah's permission, we will carry out a series of planned terrorist attacks across the country.
"What you experience today is only the beginning. One day, your government will surrender its authority, and Sharia law will be established. Allahu Akbar.”
However Dr Anna Kruglova, Lecturer of Terrorism Studies at the University of Salford and an Associate fellow at the International Centre for Countering Terrorism in the Hague did not think it is "a genuine jihadist communication".
She added: "Some jihadist ideologues do embrace the 'terrorist' label, but a group describing its own planned act using such phrasing is very unusual.”
A genuine threat would more likely use the term "jihad" or "'operation".
"Second, the religious language is very thin. Phrases like 'Sharia law will be established' and 'Allahu Akbar' look like something used in order to be recognisable by a Western reader.
"However it is not how violent Islamist groups normally communicate. In reality, you would expect references to the Qur'an or naming their enemy at least."
Finally she noted that jihadist groups do not normally give advance warnings - and normally issue them through their own branded media channels.
"This email names no group – neither al-Qaeda nor Islamic State – and is signed with a personal name [in arabic], which would also be unusual", she added.
It was most likely written by someone with "a basic, stereotypical understanding of jihadism rather than that of an insider”.
Former NATO Intelligence Col Philip Ingram expects an increase in such threats. "Many of those responsible will have been groomed by other organisations, often unknowingly, to do this," he said.
The true culprit could be Iran or Russia, he added.
Belfast Islamic Centre spokesman Kashif Akram said the threats were "unacceptable and can cause real fear and disruption for pupils, families and school staff".
“The use of religious language does not establish who sent it or their motive,” he said, “and it would be irresponsible to attribute this to Muslims before the facts are established.
"There is no justification in Islam for threatening children, schools or members of the public," he added.
Naomi Green, Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, is based in Belfast and noted that the threat was sent to the school of her own children.
"The police have confirmed that the threat was a hoax, and I have no doubt that the email was fabricated," she said.
"Quite apart from the fact that targeting children is a serious sin in Islam, the language used does not reflect Islamic terminology or phrasing.”
She was "disappointed" that the minister chose to "amplify the false claims" of the email, she added.
The PSNI said it is still investigating the email, which it is treating as a hoax. The working theory is that it was sent from outside the UK, it added.
Mr Givan was invited to comment.