A number of schools across Northern Ireland have received a concerning email, prompting urgent police enquiries.
The message is understood to be similar to a bogus threat sent to schools last month, which the PSNI declared a hoax.
A police spokesperson said officers received reports on Wednesday, November 11, and were liaising with the schools affected.
“Police are conducting urgent enquiries,” the spokesperson said. “An update will be provided in due course.”
The Education Authority said it had not been made aware of evidence of a credible threat, but stressed that it was for police to assess the message.
“EA is liaising with police on this latest message,” it said. “Investigations are continuing. It is for PSNI to determine the credibility or otherwise of any such message.”
Schools were advised to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to police. The authority said it understood that messages of this nature were distressing and would provide a further update after engaging with police.
Police Scotland said threatening messages had also been sent to schools across Scotland and the UK on Wednesday. Its assessment was that the emails were hoaxes and did not indicate a credible or wider threat to the public.
The force said the messages had been sent widely to distribution lists across the UK and Northern Ireland. Its Cyber and Fraud Unit is investigating their source, in liaison with law enforcement partners.
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said: “Once again it’s children and their families who are left to deal with the fear and disruption. It’s outrageous.”
Ms Lockhart called for an update from the PSNI on progress in tracing the emails, adding: “Whoever is behind them needs to be found and held to account. No parent should have to drop their child at the school gates wondering when the next threat will come.”
