A wave of malicious communications targeting schools prompts investigations across Birmingham, Halifax and Gateshead as authorities assure public safety.
Police forces across England are currently investigating a series of threatening emails sent to schools, with Northumbria Police among those responding to the reports received on 6 March. The notifications indicated that several secondary and primary schools in the area had been targeted by malicious communications believed to have arrived overnight.
As the investigation unfolds, it has been confirmed that schools in Birmingham and Halifax also received similar emails just a day prior. Although the potential connections between these incidents remain unclear, a spokesperson for West Midlands Police noted that their force is actively liaising with other police departments as part of a broader investigation.
“Enquiries are still at an early stage, so any links or similarities will be yet to be established,” said a spokesperson from Northumbria Police. They added that the force is determined to take appropriate action against anyone uncovering to be responsible for sending threatening communications.
Parents in Gateshead received notifications from the schools affected, informing them that a voluntary lockdown had been initiated while police conducted enquiries. Specifically, the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, which oversees Cardinal Hume Catholic School and St Oswald’s, communicated directly with parents highlighting the situation.
Concurrently, Birmingham Live reported that several schools within the Birmingham area, including Mere Green Primary School in Sutton Coldfield, had received threatening messages on 5 March, where one message allegedly included a “threat of firearms.” Despite the alarming nature of these communications, West Midlands Police clarified that they do not currently perceive any credible threat to safety and further stated that police had confirmed the email directed towards Mere Green Primary was a “hoax”.
In Halifax, the Neighbourhood Policing Team issued a statement indicating that multiple schools had received threatening emails, and the investigation into the origins of these communications is ongoing, with one individual arrested in connection with the matter.
As police agencies coordinate their efforts, the focus remains on addressing the concerns raised by these malicious communications and ensuring the safety of students and staff within the affected institutions.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/crime/gateshead-school-email-threat-police-b2710181.html – This article corroborates the information about Cardinal Hume Catholic School in Gateshead being placed under lockdown due to threatening emails. It also mentions that Northumbria Police is investigating these malicious communications.
- https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-schools-receive-threatening-emails-26313941 – This article supports the claim that schools in Birmingham received threatening emails, including Mere Green Primary School, and that West Midlands Police considered one of the messages a hoax.
- https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/crime/threatening-emails-sent-to-halifax-schools-4111111 – This article confirms that multiple schools in Halifax received threatening emails and mentions an arrest in connection with the incident.
- https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2023-03-06/gateshead-school-locked-down-after-receiving-threatening-email – This article provides additional details about the lockdown at Cardinal Hume Catholic School in Gateshead following the receipt of threatening emails.
- https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/threatening-emails-sent-halifax-schools-26314015 – This article further supports the information about the threatening emails sent to schools in Halifax and the ongoing investigation.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative is recent, referencing events that occurred on 5 and 6 March, indicating a high level of freshness. However, it does not provide real-time updates beyond these dates.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes are provided from a Northumbria Police spokesperson, but no specific original source or date for these quotes could be verified online. The quotes appear to be part of the current investigation.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from Chronicle Live, a reputable local news source in the North East of England. It also references reports from other established news outlets like Birmingham Live.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about threatening emails and police investigations are plausible given the context of recent similar incidents. The narrative aligns with typical responses to such threats.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be fresh and reliable, with quotes from a police spokesperson and references to recent events. The source is reputable, and the claims are plausible within the context of current events.
