Edinburgh schools evacuated after latest 'hoax' bomb threat

Edinburgh schools have been evacuated this morning after another ‘hoax’ bomb threat was sent to schools across the country.

Pupils at schools across the city were forced to leave classrooms shortly before 10am on Wednesday, November 11.

Students at St Augustine's R.C. High School were instructed to wait on the AstroTurf | Supplied

Police Scotland said the messages, which were sent out to schools across Scotland and the rest of the UK, were “immediately assessed and are being treated as hoaxes”.

It is understood that some schools are letting students return to their classes. West Lothian Council, where schools were also evacuated, said police have assured them that there is “no imminent risk” and that schools can “continue with their days as planned”.

A Police Scotland spokesperson added: “Our enquiries have established that there is nothing to suggest that they represent a credible threat or that there is any wider threat to the public.

“We understand how distressing messages of this nature can be for pupils, parents, carers and school staff, and the concern they can understandably cause.

“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. They have been sent widely to distribution lists across the UK and Northern Ireland and our assessment remains that they do not represent a credible threat.

“Police Scotland’s Cyber and Fraud Unit is carrying out extensive enquiries to establish the source of the messages, and officers continue to liaise with law enforcement partners across the UK and internationally.”

It comes weeks after a hoax bomb threat was sent to schools during an in-service day on October 19.

The City of Edinburgh Council have been approached for comment.

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