Northern Ireland schools just got mass evacuated over a bomb threat email

Police in Northern Ireland are investigating a bomb threat email sent to schools across the province this morning.

So how many schools? Reports vary. Around 160 schools got the message. One outlet says nearer 100. The Irish News says some reports described "every school" in Northern Ireland and Scotland getting it, though that has not been confirmed. Nobody has confirmed the exact number yet.

The email says a device is inside the school buildings.

Some schools evacuated straight away. Parents were told to come and collect their children. St Colman's Primary School in Lambeg told parents to come immediately, and said the children are all safe. Harpur's Hill Primary School and Rosstulla Special School did the same. Royal Belfast Academical Institution and Greenisland Primary School are also reported evacuated. Rosetta Primary School in Belfast moved its children to a local church hall as a precaution.

Not every school evacuated. Coleraine Grammar School says it never got the email. It checked its building on police advice and stayed open as normal.

A PSNI spokesperson says quote "Police received reports today, Monday 19th October, of an email sent to a number of schools across Northern Ireland." Police are carrying out urgent enquiries, liaising with the schools, and will update in due course.

The Education Authority says it knows about the email and is working closely with the PSNI.

Deborah Erskine, the DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, says emergency evacuations began at some schools in her area this morning. Jonathan Craig, a DUP councillor for Lisburn North, says a threat came in at one school while children were arriving and the principal evacuated immediately. He says he hopes police find whoever sent it and bring charges.

Sky News reports that police are not treating the threats as viable. That could not be confirmed independently, so it is attributed to Sky News alone.