UK school bomb threats: what happened on 11 November
Hundreds of schools across the UK received threatening emails on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, in a mass hoax that also hit schools in Italy and Ireland. Police in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland all assessed the messages as hoaxes and said there was no credible threat — and said there was no requirement to evacuate schools or keep children at home.
In Italy, about 6,300 schools received the same type of email and hundreds were evacuated as a precaution before the threats were judged fake. The UK incident is the second nationwide school bomb hoax in Scotland in less than a month, and the latest in a run of hoax threats across Europe in recent days.
What happened on 11 November?
On the morning of Wednesday, 11 November 2026, threatening emails were sent to schools across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Reports put the number of schools targeted in Scotland at between 470 and around 1,000, while more than 300 schools in Northern Ireland received the message. A number of schools in the Republic of Ireland were also contacted.
Police Scotland said the messages “were immediately assessed and are being treated as hoaxes”, adding: “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.” The force's Cyber and Fraud Unit is investigating the source of the emails and liaising with law enforcement partners in the UK and internationally.
Were schools evacuated?
Not entirely. Police advised that there was “no requirement to evacuate schools or keep children away from education based solely on the content of the emails”, but some schools in Scotland — including in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Highland, Inverclyde, Glasgow and Perth — did evacuate as a precaution before the threats were judged fake. Most schools stayed open once police confirmed the messages were a hoax.
In Italy, the picture was different: about 6,300 schools received the threatening email, and hundreds were evacuated on Wednesday. Italian police later said the incident was a suspected hoax. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a video statement that all the threats were deemed fake, with no concrete evidence of an attack, but did not rule out such threats resurfacing.
Where did the emails come from?
That is not yet known. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the message sent to schools there originated outside the United Kingdom, and Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally said the risk to the public was low. Irish police said they were aware of a “generic communication” sent to a number of schools, assessed it as not credible and advised against evacuations.
The Sun reported that a group calling itself the “Red Owl” project had claimed responsibility for the hoax, using the pseudonym Mikhail Andropov. Police have not confirmed that any group is behind the emails, and the claim has not been verified.
Has this happened before?
Yes. It is the second time in less than a month that threatening emails have been sent to schools across Scotland.
The emails are also part of a wider pattern: hoax bomb threats have targeted flights and broadcasters across Europe in recent days. Police in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland have all asked anyone who receives a threatening message to contact officers.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday, 11 November 2026 |
| Schools targeted in Scotland | Hundreds; reports say 470 to around 1,000 |
| Schools targeted in Northern Ireland | More than 300 |
| Schools targeted in Italy | About 6,300 |
| Police assessment | Hoax; no credible threat |
| Evacuations in the UK and Ireland | Some Scottish schools evacuated as a precaution; police said evacuation was not required |
| Investigation | Police Scotland Cyber and Fraud Unit |
Frequently asked questions
Should I keep my child home from school?
No. Police advice is that there is no requirement to evacuate schools or keep children away from education based solely on these emails.
Was there a real bomb?
No. Police in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland assessed the messages as hoaxes and found nothing to suggest a credible threat.
Who sent the emails?
That is under investigation. Police in Northern Ireland said the message originated outside the UK. A claim of responsibility reported by one newspaper has not been confirmed by police.
What should I do if I receive a threatening email?
Contact the police and do not act on the message alone; follow police and school advice.
Sources: CNN; Hello Rayo; Reuters (via WDSM 710 AM)
