A number of primary schools have been put into ‘lockdown‘ after a threat to pupils and staff was sent by email.
Police were made aware of the correspondence just after 10am this morning, affecting schools in Cheshire, Liverpool and Manchester.
An investigation has been launched and officers have been attending schools to provide reassurance.
Detective Chief Inspector Justin Hancock said: ‘We would like to reassure parents that this is believed to be malicious and we are doing everything we can to locate the person responsible for these emails.’
Chief Inspector Chris Boyd of GMP’s City of Manchester Division, added: ‘We take reports of this nature very seriously and whilst we have not advised any schools to close, our officers will nevertheless be stepping up their high-visibility presence around schools at the end of the day today to provide reassurance to them and the wider public.’
Lache Primary School, in Chester, was one of those affected, and has sent an email to parents and carers saying the ‘procedure is precautionary’
Lache Primary School, in Chester, was one of those affected, and has sent an email to parents and carers saying the ‘procedure is precautionary’.
The email said: ‘Dear Parents and Carers. We are informing you that the school is currently in lockdown. This procedure is precautionary and has been initiated due to the school receiving an email.
‘The same email has been sent to a number of schools in Cheshire, Liverpool and Manchester.
‘The police have been notified and are dealing with the situation. Your children are safe and continuing with learning. Please do not call school as we need the phone line to remain open.
‘Do not come to school, we cannot release your child or allow anyone to enter the building.
‘These measures are in place to keep your children safe. We will update you as soon as the police have been back in touch.’