UK Bomb Threat Scare: Hundreds of Schools Receive Fresh Warnings as Police Probe Emails

Hundreds of schools across Northern Ireland and Scotland received threatening emails on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, prompting police investigations and precautionary evacuations at some schools.

Authorities are treating the messages as hoaxes, with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirming that more than 300 schools in the region had reported receiving the same email.

The latest scare comes less than a month after schools across parts of the UK received similar suspected bomb threats, raising fresh concerns among parents, pupils and teachers.

More Than 300 Northern Ireland Schools Targeted

More than 300 schools in Northern Ireland reported receiving the threatening email, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed.

Police said the message originated outside the UK and that investigators were examining its source. Officers are also in contact with affected schools.

“We are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness, and we understand that it will cause concern for schools,” said Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally.

“Our enquiries are ongoing; however, at this stage we consider risk to the public as low.”

Police will continue working with schools, the Department of Education and the Education Authority to provide reassurance.

The Education Authority has confirmed that the latest message is similar to the bogus threat circulated across Northern Ireland in October. Officials said there was no evidence of a credible threat and urged schools to remain vigilant.

Scottish Schools Receive Threatening Messages

Police Scotland confirmed that schools across Scotland and other parts of the UK had also received threatening messages.

The force said the communications were quickly assessed and were being treated as hoaxes. Its Cyber and Fraud Unit is working with police forces across the UK and internationally to establish where the messages originated.

“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,” Police Scotland said.

The force also said schools did not need to evacuate solely because of the emails.

Despite the police assessment, some Scottish schools activated emergency procedures, with evacuations reported in areas including Fife and Perth and Kinross.

Lochaber High School in Fort William reported that more than 270 schools across Scotland had received the message. The school said it was keeping the situation under review and had no immediate plans to evacuate.

Fresh Threats Follow October School Incident

The latest incident comes less than a month after schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland received similar threatening emails on October 19.

During that incident, up to 300 schools in Northern Ireland reported receiving the same generic threatening message. Police said the email originated outside the UK and that their investigations had uncovered nothing suspicious.

As a precaution, some schools closed while others were evacuated, disrupting lessons and leaving parents scrambling to establish whether their children were safe.

The repeated incidents have raised questions about how schools should respond to threats distributed to large numbers of institutions, particularly when investigators have yet to identify their source.

They have also increased pressure on police and education authorities to determine who sent the messages and prevent further disruption.

Police Urge Schools to Follow Official Guidance

Police have urged school communities to remain calm and follow official guidance rather than react to unverified information circulating online.

The PSNI has asked people to report suspicious activity by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Police Scotland’s Cyber and Fraud Unit continues to investigate the latest messages and establish where they originated.

Although authorities are treating the communications as hoaxes, the repeated warnings have caused renewed anxiety among pupils, parents and staff. Police have stressed that there is no evidence of a credible threat, while investigations remain ongoing.