Galway schools send message to parents over hoax bomb threat

As many as four Galway schools received the sick threat alongside hundreds of schools across the country on Wednesday warning of a catastrophe that would leave "nothing but a bloody mess and bones".

Three schools in East Galway and one school in the City received the frightening fake email titled 'Death Is Near' in which the hoaxer claimed to have left "a powerful explosive device in a plastic bag inside your building".

In an email sent to the parents of one school, as seen by Galway Live, the Principal of one of the National Schools targeted said: “Dear parents, you may be aware that there has been a bomb threat sent to most schools nationwide this morning. We received one also. We contacted gardai and they advised us that there is no credible threat to the school and no evacuation was necessary. You are welcome to contact the school if you have any concerns.”

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton and her colleague Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, alongside gardai, quickly addressed the threats reassuring the public that they were not credible and that there was no need for schools targeted by the message to be evacuated.

It’s understood the same email was sent to around 300 schools across the country and that a small number of schools - in Dublin and Cork - decided to evacuate as a precaution.

The name Mikhail Andropov was also the same name used for the threat issued to RTE last week which saw their building evacuated as a precaution.

The email continues: “I’ve been preparing for this for a long time—to kill every single one of you. Just now, I left a powerful explosive device with a remote detonator in a plastic bag inside your building.

“I’ve positioned it so that the shockwave will rip through the entire room. All that will be left of you are bones and a bloody mess.

“We’ve also planted a bomb in your prime minister’s car engine. After that, we’ll finish off the survivors with knives.”

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton said: “We are aware that a number of schools have received a threatening email this morning.

“I spoke with the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, this morning and officials in my department have been in contact with An Garda Síochána at senior level regarding this incident and are continuing to liaise closely with them.

“The safety and wellbeing of students, staff and school communities remains our highest priority and my department will continue to work closely with An Garda Síochána on this matter.

“An Garda Síochána have advised my department and are advising schools that they assess this threat as not credible and there is no need for schools to evacuate.

“If a school has received this email, it is asked to please contact the emergency services at 999 and follow the advice of An Garda Síochána.

“An Garda Síochána has received a large volume of phone calls and will liaise with each school in turn, noting that with the volume of calls this may take some time.”

Deputy Garda Commissioner Paul Cleary reminded people what to do in the event of a bomb threat being issued to your workplace:

“If you receive a bomb threat by email, letter or any other message, contact An Garda Síochána immediately by calling 999. Provide as much detail as possible about the threat and the communication you have received," he said.

“Once notified, our Garda Regional Control Centre will assess the credibility of the threat.

“Following that assessment, the Control Centre and/or the Gardaí responding will advise you on the most appropriate course of action. We will do this as quickly as possible.

“It is important to understand that a bomb threat does not automatically mean that a building needs to be evacuated, but attending Gardai will assist with this decision.

“In many cases, following an assessment, the appropriate response may be to provide advice or carry out a cursory search of the premises.

“Of course, businesses and premises managers retain the ability to make their own decision to evacuate. However, An Garda Síochána will provide professional advice based on our assessment of the information available.

“Our priority is, and always will be, the safety of the public.

“You can be assured that every such report is taken seriously and that An Garda Síochána is committed to providing a professional, proportionate and timely response.”