Large number of schools in UK, Ireland receive hoax threat emails

This photo taken on Feb. 8, 2024 shows a view of the Elizabeth Tower, more commonly known as Big Ben, during the twilight in London, Britain. [Photo/Xinhua]

Authorities in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland said a threatening email sent to a large number of schools on Wednesday was a hoax originating from outside the UK.

"Earlier today, around a thousand Scottish schools received a threatening email message. These were also sent to schools across the UK," Mark Sutherland, assistant chief constable of Police Scotland, said in a statement.

Sutherland said the messages were immediately assessed and were treated as "hoaxes."

"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," he said.

According to a statement released Wednesday by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), over 300 schools reported receiving the same threat email that the police said was "a hoax."

"Police investigating the circumstances of threatening emails sent to schools across Northern Ireland this morning, are treating the matter as a hoax," the statement said, adding that the email was originated from outside the UK.

"Unless otherwise advised by the PSNI schools should stay open," the Department of Education of Northern Ireland said on social media on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, An Garda Siochana (Irish police) said it was "aware of a generic communication that has been sent to a number of educational establishments" in Ireland.

"An Garda Siochana assess this threat as not credible and is not advising any educational establishment to evacuate," it said.