A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after St Mary’s Primary School in Walthamstow and nine schools in Sheffield received threatening emails from an individual claiming to have a firearm.
The email, sent in the early hours of Monday, April 14, prompted immediate concern and precautionary measures at several schools. While the threat was not believed to be credible, St Mary’s School suspended nursery activities as a safety precaution.
The teenager was arrested by South Yorkshire Police on suspicion of malicious communications. He has since been released on police bail, and investigations are ongoing.
Police Statement
A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said:
“At 6.38am on Monday (14 April) we received a report that a male sent an email to nine schools across Sheffield in which he threatened he would cause harm and was in possession of a firearm.
“We understand that this will be concerning for parents, pupils and staff in our community and reassure you that immediately following the reports, officers worked at pace and have found no evidence to suggest the threat is genuine.”
They added that while there is no current evidence of an actual weapon or plan to carry out harm, the nature of the message warranted swift action.
School and Community Response
The schools affected acted swiftly to safeguard children and staff, with some cancelling certain activities or increasing security for the day. Parents were informed as the situation unfolded.
Local residents and parents in Walthamstow expressed concern, with many praising St Mary’s for its rapid response to the incident. One parent said, “It’s terrifying to think something like this could happen, but I’m grateful the school took it seriously and put the children’s safety first.”
Ongoing Investigation
Police have not released the identity of the teen due to his age. Authorities continue to investigate the origin and intent of the message and whether any laws regarding malicious communications or hoax threats have been broken.
Anyone with further information is urged to contact the police or speak with their local neighbourhood policing team, who are on hand to offer reassurance and support.
Key Points:
- Threats were emailed to ten schools, including St Mary’s in Walthamstow.
- A 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of malicious communications.
- He has been released on bail as the investigation continues.
- Police say there is no evidence the threat was genuine.
- Schools and police are urging the public to remain calm but vigilant.
For updates, follow local police social media channels or visit South Yorkshire Police’s website.
