Statement on threatening messages sent to schools

Wednesday, 11 November 2026 at 17:50

Police Scotland have issued a further statement

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland said:

“Earlier today, around a thousand Scottish schools received a threatening email message. These were also sent to schools across the UK.

"These messages were immediately assessed and we are treating them as hoaxes. 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.”