School bomb threat: Hundreds of UK schools hit by hoax emails
Schools in London were among hundreds up and down the country which were evacuated due to a mass bomb threat.
More than 400 schools and colleges across the UK received the email threat on Monday, according to police.
“The emails inform the school that a bomb has been placed on the grounds and will be detonated if they don’t hand over cash,” Northumbria Police said in a tweet.
They are believed to have been sent to UK schools from the United States. The Met Police has confirmed it is investigating.
Anyone reading this and worrying, it’s an email and it is a Hoax. My school received it alongside a number of others. pic.twitter.com/CuQB8LbafE
— Joe (@joe_t_93) March 19, 2018
The hoax email is believed to read: "This is a message to EVERYONE. We have sent in a student with a bomb. The bomb is set to go off in 3 hours time. If you do sent $5,000 USD to payments@veltpvp.com
"If you do not send the money! We will blow up the device. Our site has all the information needed
"If you try to call the cops we WILL blowup the device on the SPOT! ANY attempt at defusing it your self will cause it to explode."
It is then followed by what appears to be Arabic writing.
We have had a number of calls this morning about a bomb hoax at many of our region's schools. All of the schools have been spoken to and there is not believed to be any viable threats #ProudToProtect pic.twitter.com/iGafyMfAvx
— Northumbria Police (@northumbriapol) March 19, 2018
Schools in boroughs all over the capital have been evacuated.
Hounslow Council confirmed that eight of its schools were affected.
A spokesman said: "Initially we thought it was isolated to one school. But there are eight to date in Hounslow that we are aware of. I can’t say if they have all been evacuated.
“We are monitoring the situation very closely, and working with the police and taking our lead from them."
School has been evacuated because of a threat. Lots of people with no jackets standing in the snow. Apparently not just us. #lambeth
— Alix B (@ABnotFab) March 19, 2018
An Ealing Council spokesman said: “We know that schools have received a letter. They are aware of it and will be vigilant.
"Police will visit each school that has reported receiving a threat. Schools remain open at this time.”
News from OLI school #tolworth #surbiton
We have received a bomb threat which the Police have advised us to assume is a hoax. In line with our security policy we have evacuated the children who are all safe at Grand Avenue School.
Some people!— John Sweeney (@jnsweeneytweets) March 19, 2018
John Sweeney, of Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School in Tolworth, wrote on Twitter: "News from OLI school #tolworth #surbiton
"We have received a bomb threat which the Police have advised us to assume is a hoax. In line with our security policy we have evacuated the children who are all safe at Grand Avenue School. Some people!
There was a national threat made to lots of schools this morning and KKS went into invacutation to ensure the safety of our site.This was in conjunction with CST and the Metropolitan Police. We have established that there is no further threat and School is now running as normal.
— Kantor King Solomon (@kingsolomonhigh) March 19, 2018
Another Twitter user wrote: “Why is my Children’s school being evacuated? Windrush Charlton.”
@MPSWoolwichRiv Why is my Children’s school being evacuated? Windrush Charlton
— Blount's Awareness (@BlountsAwareUK) March 19, 2018
A Met Police spokesman said: “The Met has received a number of reports relating to malicious communications sent to schools across London on Monday, 19 March.
"These are currently being treated as hoaxes. At this stage there is no evidence to suggest that this is terror-related."
Schools in Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Humberside, Northumbria and North Yorkshire were also among those that received the email.