Schools Evacuated in Scotland and Northern Ireland After Bomb Threats

A nationwide bomb hoax that forced hundreds of schools to close included a threat to carry out what it called a “genocide against your people”.

Thousands of pupils were sent home after threatening emails reached schools across Scotland—including institutions in Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Highlands—as well as schools in Northern Ireland.

The emails were sent using the name Mikhail Andropov, an alias that had also appeared in bomb threats targeting European broadcasters, including Ireland’s RTÉ and Sky, on Friday.

The subject line read “DEATH IS NEAR”. The message began: “This is Mikhail Andropov, leader of the ‘Red Owl’ project.”

It continued: “We have come to destroy you. We are going to carry out a genocide against your people. I have been preparing this for a long time—to kill every single one of you.”

Police said the suspicious emails triggered emergency procedures at several schools, but investigators quickly assessed them as hoaxes that did not amount to a credible threat. Officers advised that schools did not need to shut.

Even so, police attended a number of schools. In some areas, pupils gathered on playing fields beneath foil blankets as they waited in sharply falling temperatures.

More than 470 schools in Scotland were believed to have received an email referring to a “device” after the message was distributed through mailing lists used across the UK.

Parents collect children from a meeting point in Inverness after a school shut today

At least 300 schools in Northern Ireland were also sent the message. Gardaí in the Republic of Ireland were investigating similar threats against schools, while Italy’s education ministry said more than 300 schools there had received bomb-threat emails.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said there was no “concrete danger” to pupils, although she confirmed that she had summoned a government meeting to discuss the incident.

Some headteachers who opted to close their schools asked parents not to arrive for collection, as staff worked to arrange emergency transport to take children home safely.

The incident follows another hoax bomb warning that affected schools across Scotland last month. That message also referred to an “explosive device”, was signed “Allahu Akbar” and appeared to threaten the UK with the imposition of Sharia law.

It also came days after a series of bomb threats against European airlines, prompting dozens of aircraft to make unexpected landings or fly under fighter-jet escort. 

A Police Scotland spokesperson said threatening messages had been sent on Wednesday, November 11, to schools in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.

The force said the messages were assessed immediately and were being treated as hoaxes. Its enquiries had found no evidence of a credible threat or a broader danger to the public.

Police acknowledged the distress such messages could cause pupils, parents, carers and school employees.

The force said schools did not need to evacuate or keep children away from lessons solely because of the emails.

The messages had been sent widely through UK and Northern Ireland distribution lists, and police said their assessment remained that they were not credible.

Police Scotland’s Cyber and Fraud Unit was investigating the source, while officers were working with law enforcement agencies across the UK and internationally.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it had received reports of a troubling email sent to several schools across the region.

Officers launched urgent enquiries, contacted the schools involved and said further information would be issued when available.

John McGhee, Glasgow City Council’s executive director of education, said reports of an email referring to a device had been confirmed by police as a hoax and that schools did not need to evacuate.

He said officers would investigate where the messages came from and that the council would continue working closely with Police Scotland.

A City of Edinburgh Council spokesperson said schools had been evacuated briefly as a precaution after receiving threatening messages.

Police Scotland had since confirmed that the threats were not credible and were being treated as a hoax.

The council said the safety of pupils, staff and everyone working in its schools remained its highest priority. It added that parents and carers did not need to remove their children, while schools continued to work with police and await further updates.

Fife Council service manager Kevin Funnell said several schools had received an email containing a bomb threat that morning.

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Pupils huddle under foil blankets to keep warm after a school in Scotland is evacuated today 

Schools in Fife followed established safety procedures as a precaution and informed Police Scotland. Mr Funnell said there was no information at that stage indicating a genuine threat.

He said the wellbeing of pupils, staff and visitors was the council’s priority, adding that schools would remain in contact with police and provide updates as necessary.

An Aberdeenshire Council spokesperson said schools in the area had received an email that Police Scotland quickly identified as a hoax.

Schools followed their standard procedures and contacted police as a precaution. The council said it understood the concern felt by families but had no information suggesting a credible danger to pupils or staff.

Highland Council said a threatening email had been sent that morning to schools across the Highlands and other parts of the country.

Some schools activated emergency procedures as a precaution while awaiting additional advice from Police Scotland.

West Lothian Council said a number of schools had received the same threatening email, which police were treating as a hoax.

After speaking with officers, the council said it had been assured there was no imminent risk and that schools should operate normally. Parents and carers were being informed through a GroupCall message.

Inverclyde Council said schools in the area had received a potentially threatening email earlier in the day.

Police Scotland advised that there was no credible threat, while schools responded promptly by following established safety measures.

Any schools that had introduced lockdown procedures were told they could end them. The council said it would continue to monitor the situation and share further information if required.

Students from a school in Turin in Italy are evacuated this morning after a bomb threat

Angus Council said schools in the area, along with institutions elsewhere in Scotland and the UK, had again received hoax emails.

The messages were reported to Police Scotland, which said they were being treated as hoaxes while officers investigated their source.

Parents and carers were told there was no information indicating a cause for concern or a need to evacuate. The council said it would remain guided by police advice.

East Lothian Council said hoax emails were circulating across Scotland, including in its area.

Police Scotland had advised that there was no credible threat and schools should remain open. The council said it would continue prioritising the safety of pupils, young people and staff.

South Lanarkshire Council said schools had responded quickly to the threatening emails and followed the appropriate reporting procedures.

The council’s incident management team consulted directly with Police Scotland, which confirmed the messages were being treated as hoaxes and did not represent a credible threat. Schools were expected to continue operating as normal.

Northern Ireland’s Education Authority said another threatening email had been sent to a large number of schools in the region.

The message resembled a bogus warning sent the previous month, which the PSNI had declared a hoax. The Education Authority said it was liaising with police and had not been told of any evidence pointing to a credible threat.

Investigations remained ongoing, with the PSNI responsible for determining whether the message posed any genuine danger. Schools were advised to stay alert and report suspicious activity.

The Education Authority said it recognised how upsetting such communications could be and promised to issue an update after discussions with police.

Last month, hoax bomb threats forced a number of schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland to close.

Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan said at the time that the threat was “Islamist” and had been signed “Allahu Akbar”.

Alliance Party MLA Paula Bradshaw condemned the latest threats in a social media post.

She described the actions as reckless and unacceptable, saying they had caused fear and distress among pupils, parents and staff. She urged people to remain calm, follow official advice and said her thoughts were with those affected.