Schools across UK evacuated over 'bomb threat' just weeks after similar incident

Schools across Scotland and Northern Ireland have been evacuated this morning after a threatening email was sent.

Police Scotland confirmed the messages were being 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," a statement read.

"We understand how distressing messages of this nature can be for pupils, parents, carers and school staff, and the concern they can understandably cause."

Schools were urged not to evacuate or to keep children away from education due to the threatening emails.

"They have been sent widely to distribution lists across the UK and Northern Ireland and our assessment remains that they do not represent a credible threat," the force added.

Edinburgh City Council confirmed pupils had been "briefly evacuated as a precaution" following the emails.

"The safety of children and young people, and all who work in our schools, is our top priority and we will always act in line with our safety protocols and procedures, as we did today," the council said.

"We understand the impact this can have on families and want to reassure parents and carers that our schools are safe and there is no need to remove your child."

The incident possesses eery similarities to an incident just weeks ago, where some schools in Northern Ireland were forced to evacuate following an "Islamist" bomb threat.

At the time, Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan confirmed the message, which warned there was "viable devices" within the institutions, had been sent to more than 160 schools and was "signed off 'Allah Akbar'".

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Today, the Education Authority (EA) said: "The message has similarities with a bogus threat sent last month, which was declared a hoax by PSNI.

"EA is liaising with police on this latest message. At this stage, we have not been made aware of any evidence of any credible threat to schools.

"Investigations are continuing. It is for PSNI to determine the credibility or otherwise of any such message.“

As always, schools are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to PSNI.

"We fully appreciate that any message of this nature is distressing and can assure schools, parents/carers and children and young people that we will provide a further update following engagement with police."

Police Scotland said their Cyber and Fraud Unit is carrying out enquiries to establish the source of the messages.

Schools in Italy have also been forced to evacuate this morning following a "nationwide bomb alert", according to reports.

Education ⁠Minister Giuseppe Valditara told the La7 TV channel they have been presumed hoaxes.

The emails were signed off "Mikhail Andropov, leader ⁠of the Vilayat of Misoginistan," Reuters report.

The same author claimed responsibility for bomb threats in Ireland and Bulgaria last week, they say.