On Wednesday morning, multiple schools across Scotland were evacuated following reports of bomb threats linked to suspicious emails. Police Scotland has confirmed that the messages are being treated as hoaxes and there is no credible threat to the public. Investigations are underway by detectives from the Cyber and Fraud unit to trace the source of these communications, which have caused significant alarm among parents and school staff alike.
In East Lothian, local authorities reassured the community that the threats are hoaxes, stating, "We are aware of hoax emails that are circulating across Scotland, including in East Lothian." The council emphasized that schools should remain open, prioritizing the safety of children and staff while following guidance from Police Scotland. Similarly, Aberdeenshire Council reported receiving hoax threats and confirmed that no credible danger exists, urging calm among families.S1
Schools in Argyll and Bute also reported receiving similar threats, but no evacuations were necessary there. In Glasgow, council officials advised that schools should not evacuate, reinforcing the message that the threats are not credible. John McGee, executive director of education services in Glasgow, communicated this to parents in a letter, stating that police would continue to investigate the source of the emails.S1
In Inverclyde, King's Oak Primary School was placed in a partial lockdown due to the threats, although this precaution was lifted shortly thereafter. The situation reflects a wider pattern of hoax bomb threats that have also targeted media outlets and airlines earlier this month, as noted by Garda Superintendent Siobhan Molohan, who described the threats as 'low grade'. Authorities in Northern Ireland have also reported similar incidents involving schools receiving concerning emails.S1S2