World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Hundreds of schools in four countries receive bomb threats
Hundreds of schools received bomb threats on Monday in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Hungary and Serbia.
Some schools were evacuated while authorities responded.
Police in Northern Ireland said up to 300 schools received the same email, which made a general threat.
The warnings appeared to be a hoax, according to authorities.
It is not known whether the threats in the different places were connected.
Police are investigating the threatening emails and circumstances around them.
The reports do not say what further action will follow.
Hundreds of schools in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Hungary and Serbia received bomb threats on Monday.
Authorities said the warnings appeared to be hoaxes, and some schools were evacuated.
Police in Northern Ireland said up to 300 schools received the same generalised threat by email.
Police Scotland received more than 300 calls after threatening messages were sent to schools across Scotland.
Specialist cyber crime officers are investigating the source of the messages.
- Who
- Schools in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Hungary and Serbia received threats.
- What
- They received bomb threats by email. Authorities said the warnings appeared to be hoaxes.
- When
- Monday, 19 October 2026.
- Where
- Northern Ireland, Scotland, Hungary and Serbia.
- Why
- Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Threatening emails were sent to schools, including schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Police said the warnings were hoaxes, and specialist cyber crime officers began investigating the source of the messages.
- Countries affected
- Northern Ireland, Scotland, Hungary and Serbia
- Northern Ireland schools
- Up to 300 received the same emailed message, according to police
- Scotland police calls
- More than 300
- Threat assessment
- Authorities said the warnings appeared to be a hoax
4 sources
What people are saying
These messages are being treated as a hoax.
But nonetheless the person who put together those emails did so with the intention of causing fear and alarm, and I think it's fair to say that has been somewhat successful, and that is a worry in itself.
While I'm obviously relieved that this 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.