Police investigate 'non-viable' bomb threats sent to schools in Northern Ireland

Police are investigating after up to 300 schools in Northern Ireland were sent bomb threats, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said.

Stormont's education minister said schools were advised the threats were not being treated as viable, but acknowledged they had clearly caused huge alarm.

Separately, Police Scotland said it was investigating "threatening messages" being sent to a number of schools across Scotland, which were "being treated as a hoax".

Speaking about the threats in Northern Ireland, Mr Givan said: "It would appear to me [they were] from Islamists threatening that Sharia law will be brought into our country," adding that they were signed off with "Allah Akbar".

The PSNI said it was conducting "urgent inquiries" and was liaising with affected schools.

The police force and Education Authority had held emergency meetings after the threats.

Stormont's education minister condemned the disruption caused to young people's education, after a number of schools closed after receiving the threat through formal communication channels.

In a statement, the Education Authority said it was "aware that a number of schools across Northern Ireland have received a threatening email this morning".

"We recognise the concern this may cause for school leaders, staff, pupils and families," they added.

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(c) Sky News 2026: Police investigate 'non-viable' bomb threats sent to schools in Northern Ireland