Police investigating hoax threat emails sent to Scottish schools

Police are investigating after a number of schools across Scotland were targeted by a bomb threat email which is being treated as a hoax.BBC Scotland has confirmed that messages were received by schools in Glasgow, Edinburgh, East Renfrewshire, Perth an Kinross and East Lothian among other local authorities.They are believed to have been sent to both primary and secondary schools.Schools in Northern Ireland were also sent an email claiming "an explosive device" had been put into 160 schools. Their education minister said it was not being treated as a "viable threat".A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We are aware of threatening messages being sent to a number of schools across Scotland."These are being treated as a hoax and officers are investigating."BBC Scotland has contacted all 32 local authorities.So far, Scottish Borders, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Edinburgh and North Ayrshire have confirmed they are aware of schools receiving the threat.Highland council said it was not aware of any threat, while West Dunbartonshire and East Ayrshire referred to the Police Scotland statement.A spokesperson for East Renfrewshire Council said many of its schools had received a "malicious threat" and staff immediately followed relevant procedures."After notifying Police Scotland, the communication is being investigated as a hoax, and our schools are operating as normal," the spokesperson said.