School bomb threats: Suspected hoax calls spread around the South

Around 300 pupils were evacuated from a number of primary schools in Portchester,Bognor,Southampton and Guildford following a number bogus bomb threats. Parents of children at some of the schools were told to pick them up after a hoax call at around 10am. Whilst in other staff and pupils have been made to leave the building. The threats have quickly discredited as hoaxes by cops. Some parents received a phone call or text message at around 10.30am telling them to collect their children immediately. The text read: “Unfortunately, school has to be closed immediately. Please come now to collect your children from the playground. Do not phone school.” Parents were not given any other information, but rumours of a bomb threat began to circulate as they arrived at the schools, where police were already on scene. There were reports of children being sent home without their belongings as staff scrambled to get them outside. Some children were seen in the playground without their shoes or bags. A police statement said: “All schools took the decision to evacuate the pupils and staff, and a search was carried out. All pupils returned to their schools by 11:30. Police attended as part of the investigation.”

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