'No need to evacuate' after threats sent to schools

There is no need for schools to evacuate after emails containing threats were assessed by gardaí as not being credible, the Minister for Education has said.

In a statement, gardaí said they are aware of a generic communication that was sent to a number of educational establishments this morning.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil that gardaí received "several hundred" calls from schools over emailed warnings which he said were "generic email threats".

"The Department of Justice has liaised with An Garda Síochána at senior level in regard to this incident.

"The Minister for Education has spoken to the Minister for Justice, and her officials have been in constant contact with An Garda Síochána," he said.

Mr Martin said that gardaí will contact each school, but "given the volume of calls, this may take some time".

He added: "If a school has received this email, they are advised to contact the emergency services at 999 and follow the advice of An Garda Síochána, and the Department of Education has written to all schools this morning to advise on the same."

Minister Hildegarde Naughton said gardaí have advised schools that they have assessed "this threat as not credible and there is no need for schools to evacuate".

She said that if a school received this email, they should contact emergency services and follow the advice of gardaí.

The minister said gardaí received "a large volume of phone calls" this morning.

In Northern Ireland, the PSNI said 300 schools reported receiving an email containing a threat.

It said they were treating it as a hoax.

Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally said police take incidents of this nature very seriously and we understand the concern of school communities.

"Our enquiries are ongoing, however, at this stage we consider risk to the public as low. We will continue to liaise with schools impacted and have been working closely with the Department of Education and the Education Authority this morning to provide reassurance," he said.

A primary school in Belfast posted a message it received from Northern Ireland's Education Authority.

"We are aware that another threatening email message has today been sent to a large number of schools in NI.

"The message has similarities with a bogus threat sent last month, which was declared a hoax by PSNI.

"EA is liaising with police on this latest message.

"At this stage, we have not been made aware of any evidence of any credible threat to schools. Investigations are continuing.

"It is for PSNI to determine the credibility or otherwise of any such message.

"As always, schools are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to PSNI.

"We fully appreciate that any message of this nature is distressing and can assure schools that we will provide a further update following engagement with police."

Yesterday, Garda Deputy Commissioner Paul Cleary provided guidance on response to recent increased activity in hoax and non-credible bomb threats.

"If you receive a bomb threat by email, letter or any other message, contact An Garda Síochána immediately by calling 999.

"Once notified, our Garda Regional Control Centre will assess the credibility of the threat. Following that assessment, the Control Centre and/or the gardaí responding will advise you on the most appropriate course of action," he said.

Similar emails were received by some schools in Scotland, with Police Scotland saying that while "distressing" there was "nothing to suggest that they represent a credible threat".

It is understood that a number of media organisations in Ireland and the UK received a similar threat earlier.

Schools were evacuated across Italy on Wednesday following a series of hoax bomb threats, but Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said there was no "concrete danger".

Ms Meloni said she had called a government meeting with security and intelligence chiefs for Wednesday to discuss the threats.

Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said 312 schools had received the threats but urged people not to panic, according to Italian media.

Crowds of evacuated schoolchildren could be seen outside their schools in different parts of the country.