Edinburgh council brands hoax bomb threat 'hugely frustrating' after city schools evacuated

Edinburgh’s education convener has said he is “hugely frustrated” after a hoax bomb threat saw schools in the city evacuated this morning.

Teachers in the city, who are in school for an in-service day today, Monday, October 19, following last week’s October school holiday, were sent home from school buildings across Edinburgh between 9.30am and 10am this morning due to “UK-wide bomb threats to schools”.

Police Scotland confirmed that the threat was being “treated as a hoax”, with Edinburgh council having branded the incident “hugely frustrating”.

City of Edinburgh Council education convener Councillor James Dalgleish has given his response to this morning's bomb hoax sent to schools across the UK including Edinburgh. | Stock

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Cllr James Dalgleish, education convener said: “While I’m obviously relieved that this is has been confirmed as a hoax, I’m hugely frustrated that someone would target schools and young people in this way – causing unnecessary disruption right across the UK.

“With it being an in-service day here in Edinburgh, the impact on our pupils was thankfully more Iimited but that doesn’t take away from the stupidity of this person’s actions.

“I am, however, reassured that our procedures were properly followed and that, as far as possible, we were able to put alternative arrangements in place.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We are aware of threatening messages being sent to a number of schools across Scotland. These are being treated as a hoax and officers are investigating.”