School put in lockdown and pupils kept inside after hoax ‘threatening emails’

A school in Gateshead had been put in lockdown after receiving ‘threatening emails’, while police are investigating similar reports at other schools in Birmingham.

Cardinal Hume Catholic School students were not allowed to leave the school in Gateshead this morning after emails were received overnight.

In a letter published by the school, Northcumbia Police Chief Inspector Thomas Hart said a number of schools in the area received ‘information via email’ and were forced to take safeguarding action.

‘We have made subsequent enquiriesand deemed this not to be a credible threat,’ the letter said.

‘To reassure you, there are no known concerns as a result of these malicious communications this morning and no schools need to be in lockdown’.

Cardinal Hume School praised the conduct of it’s students and said the lockdown ended after ‘positive assurances from the police’.

Meanwhile, the Mere Green Primary School in Sutton Coldfield  told Birmingham Live that it received a message with a ‘threat of firearms’ yesterday.

The Sutton Coldfield primary said it pulled classroom blinds down and had indoor break time instead of outdoor following the threats.

West Midlands Police said that, at this stage, the force did not believe there was ‘any credible threat’.

‘We’re investigating after threatening e-mails were sent to a number of schools in Birmingham,’ a spokesperson told Metro.

‘We’d urge schools to get in touch with us if they have any concerns.

‘Hoax messages are a serious criminal offence and cause significant disruption to the community and public services.’

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