LAST UPDATE | 24 Mar 2025

THE PSNI IS treating an email that caused the closure of several schools across the North as a hoax.

Earlier today, a PSNI spokesperson said the force was investigating the emails alongside the Metropolitan Police in London.

In a statement this afternoon, the PSNI said it received reports this morning from three schools in Strabane, Co Tyrone, three schools in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, and three schools in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.  

The email had been received in the early hours of today and PSNI officers were immediately deployed to each school to engage with staff.

“Checks have not, at this time, resulted in anything untoward at any of the schools,” said the PSNI.

“Based on enquiries and information to date, police are treating this as a hoax.”

The PSNI said enquiries are continuing.

Three schools in Enniskillen who received the email stayed open, while the schools in Ballycastle and three in Strabane closed.

PSNI Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney said the force takes incidents of this nature “very seriously” and that the PSNI “understand the concern in the community, not to mention the disruption it has caused in each of the school communities”.

She said the PSNI will continue to liaise with each of the schools impacted to provide reassurance and urged everyone to be “vigilant and report anything suspicious to police immediately”.

Several of the schools that received the email posted on social media that they had to close due to a “security concern”.

“Any children already en route, we would ask that parents make arrangements to collect them,” posted some of the schools to social media.

“We will update you all as soon as possible.”

Elsewhere, Erne Integrated College in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, said it had been closed earlier this morning due to a “security alert” but that it has since been fully investigated by the PSNI and has since opened as normal.

UUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Diana Armstrong, said the security alerts were “due to hoax emails” and added that she has been “assured that all sites have been checked and principals given reassurance that the sites are safe”.

Distressing news this morning following recent security alerts due to hoax emails sent to three post primary and one primary school in Fermanagh, I have been assured that all sites have been checked and Principals given reassurance that the sites are safe.

— Diana Armstrong MLA (@Diana_uup) March 24, 2025

Armstrong praised the PSNI for their “swift and effective response” but “urged everyone to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities”.

Meanwhile, Deborah Erskine, a DUP MLA for the same constituency, said she has been in contact with the PSNI over the “despicable emails sent to schools in this area”.

“Sadly, the individual behind it sought to cause havoc across many schools in NI and elsewhere,” she said.

She added: “This would have been a very scary incident to occur for the school leadership and the staff, as they continue to put everyone’s safety at their highest priority.”

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