'Targeting children is utterly appalling'
School emails may have been a hoax, but PSNI investigations continue
ULSTER Unionist Party Leader and Education Spokesperson Jon Burrows has condemned the threatening email sent to over 300 schools across Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
It is the second such incident in a matter of weeks - and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has called for ‘swift enquiries’ to find out who is responsible.
“It is utterly appalling that schools across Northern Ireland have once again been targeted with a threatening email,” he fumed.
“Schools should be safe places of learning. Whoever is behind this is deliberately setting out to frighten children, worry parents and disrupt principals and staff who already have more than enough on their plates. It is despicable.
“I thank the PSNI, the Education Authority and school leaders for their response.
“Swift enquiries must now follow to find the source of this email and whether it is linked to last month’s threats, so that those responsible can be identified and held to account.”
Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally said the PSNI quickly established the threats were a hoax - but added that they ‘take incidents of this nature very seriously’.
“We understand the concern in the community, school communities and for students and parents,” he said.
"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.
"We urge everyone, in the meantime, to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to police immediately by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency."