PSNI treating threatening emails sent to around 300 schools in NI 'as a hoax' - Education minister slams ‘Islamist’ bomb threat

The news comes as Education minister Paul Givan said the warning was signed off “Allahu Akbar”.

Speaking to reporters at Stormont, Mr Givan said that “it would appear to me from Islamists threatening that Sharia law will be brought into our country and that there is viable devices within those school settings and it was signed off ‘Allahu Akbar’,”.

“That has been escalated to the PSNI and the Education Authority are having emergency meetings with the police this morning.

“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 absolutely condemn that there has been this level of disruption caused to young people’s education.

“But obviously, we are working through a process with the PSNI in terms of dealing with that email that was communicated to those schools".

In a statement, the Education Authority said it is “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,” they 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.”

Earlier police said that ‘up to 300 schools to date have reported to police receiving the same emailed message which contained a generalised threat’.

They added: “It is believed similar emails have been received by some schools across UK.

"Checks have not, at this time, resulted in anything untoward

"Based on enquiries and information to date, police are treating this email, which originated from outside the UK, as a hoax. “Enquiries are continuing.” Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: "We take incidents of this nature very seriously and we understand the concern in the community, not to mention the disruption it has caused in some school communities and for students and parents.

"Our enquiries are ongoing, however, at this stage we consider risk to the public as low.

"We will continue to liaise with schools impacted and have been working closely with the Department of Education and the Education Authority this morning to provide reassurance. "We urge everyone, in the meantime, to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to police immediately by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency."

It has emerged that the majority of schools remained open although some did close as a result of the threatening emails. Call handlers from Police Scotland assisted PSNI with the volume of incoming reports on Monday morning.