A man threatened to use a gun to ’cause harm’ in emails sent to schools in Sheffield and a nursery in London.
The email was sent to nine schools in Sheffield and follows a threat made towards a London nursery which closed because it received a threatening email referring to ‘acts of violence’.
St Mary’s School in Walthamstow is closed and the other schools targeted are all in Sheffield.
The main school is shut because of the Easter holidays but the nursery was meant to be open this morning.
The Met Police has confirmed that the email threats sent are believed to be linked to threats made to schools in the Sheffield area.
South Yorkshire Police verified the threatening email – which said a man with a gun was willing to ’cause harm’ in the schools – but confirmed the threat is not genuine.
It said: ‘At 6.38am today (Monday), 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.
‘Our investigation remains on-going and neighbourhood policing patrols are taking place today at the locations mentioned in the email as a further precaution, and to provide reassurance to residents. Our officers are there to help, please speak to them if you have concerns.’
In an email sent to parents seen by The London Standard, the school said it had received a threat via email referring to ‘committing acts of violence to those on our premises’ along with several other schools.
It said: ‘We are working closely with the police and following their advice and guidance to ensure the safety of our children and staff.
‘At this stage, they have classed the threat as credible. Therefore, we have currently closed the nursery this morning and we will provide further updates as we receive them.’
It said the safety of its children and staff was its ‘top priority’.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘At around 06:30hrs on Monday, 14 April, police received reports of email threats being made towards a school on Brooke Road, Walthamstow.
‘The nursery has chosen to relocate as a precautionary measure, although no pupils were attending the school today due to the Easter holidays.
‘An investigation is ongoing, however at this stage the threats are not being treated as credible.
‘We are working alongside South Yorkshire Police, as at this stage this is believed to be linked to threats made to schools in the Sheffield area.’
Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy wrote on X: ‘Walthamstow I know that parents are sharing the understandably concerning email about St Mary’s school they have received this morning. I am in touch with the police and want to give this update at present to help clarify what is happening and what is not.
‘I can confirm that the school has received a threat that is being taken seriously. This threat has also been received by other schools outside London. This is the only school in Walthamstow to received this and the police are on the site to actively investigate.
‘For those parents organising childcare it is reasonable to assume that the school nursery will be closed for at least this morning whilst investigations take place. I recognise this is shocking – for someone to threaten a school- and as soon as I have further information I will share.’
According to the MP, the other schools that have been targeted are in the South Yorkshire area.
She said no other schools outside of South Yorkshire had been impacted except St Mary’s.
The MP wrote: ‘There is nothing to suggest in either the threat made or the schools involved any faith connection to this incident.
‘The school have made arrangements to support the children attending the nursery offsite, so if your child is one of those, please do contact them for further details. The police are working with the school and with their colleagues in South Yorkshire to apprehend the perpetrator.
‘Again I know this is a shocking incident that anyone would threaten a primary school, so I am monitoring the situation closely.’
The school has been contacted for comment.
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