1000 schools across Scotland targeted by hoax 'bomb threat' as police cyber units work to find source
The Education Secretary said counter-terrorism experts were working to understand who was responsible.
Police have confirmed that 1,000 schools across Scotland were sent bomb hoax messages on Wednesday - in the second wave of threats in the space of a month.
Hundreds of pupils were evacuated after the emails were sent to schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland and elsewhere in the UK.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland said: “Around a thousand Scottish schools received a threatening email message. These were also sent to schools across the UK. These messages were immediately assessed and we are treating them as hoaxes.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Education Secretary Màiri McAllan was pressed in parliament to explain “why this keeps happening?” The threats come after similar messages were sent to schools across Scotland on October 19.
Adam Harley, Lib Dem MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, said: “[The Education Secretary] will be aware that this is the second time this has happened in the space of a month, and I know she's aware of the alarm it causes to many parents and also the impact this is having on many children’s education.
“Can she provide any additional context and information as to why this keeps happening?”
Ms McAllan responded to say that counter-terrorism experts were working to understand who was responsible.
He said: “I hope [Mr Harley] will understand that, with Police Scotland's assurance in hand, there is no threat to the public.
“There is a considerable amount of work ongoing in Police Scotland, counter-terrorism, right across the United Kingdom and, as we will have seen from fresh reports across Europe, to understand the motivations and the individuals behind this.
“It would not be appropriate for me to say more at this point, except to assure members that this is very much in hand with authorities.”
Ms McAllan told MSPs earlier: “Parents need the highest levels of assurance when it comes to their children, and I want them to have that.
“I have just come from an urgent meeting that I convened with Police Scotland, councils and wider partners across Scotland to ensure that the response is coordinated and that communication is as smooth as it can be.
“In the meantime, I just want to assure parents once again of Police Scotland's advice that there is nothing to suggest a threat to the public, and of the robust procedures that have been followed both by Police Scotland and our education authorities.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland also assured in a statement: “Our advice is that there is no requirement to evacuate schools or keep children away from education based solely on the content of the emails.
“Police Scotland’s Cyber and Fraud Unit is carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the source of the messages, and officers continue to liaise with law enforcement partners across the UK and internationally.”
Several opposition parties had criticised the government’s response to the incident.
Yi-pei Chou Turvey North East Scottish Lib Dem MSP, whose child was evacuated from their school in Aberdeenshire, said: “This is now the second time that schools, teachers and pupils have been disrupted by threats like this in recent weeks.
“The Scottish Government needs to send a message that hoax messages like this are utterly unacceptable and that those responsible will be diligently and relentlessly hunted down.”
Senga Beresford MSP from Reform UK said: “Parents across my constituency were left scared and confused today following yet another bomb threat hoax.
“The failure to keep parents in the loop exposes serious gaps in how emergencies are communicated to parents, just as they failed weeks ago.
“Families should not have to rely on word of mouth when incidents like this happen - the Scottish Government needs to set out clear expectations so that parents are not left in the dark again.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.