School lockdowns live – Primaries in Manchester and Cheshire on alert after email threats to pupils and staff

Malicious emails were sent to a number of schools in the North West on Tuesday morning

(Google Maps/screengrab)

Police have launched an investigation after malicious emails were sent to a number of schools in the North West, in what is now believed to be a “malicious hoax“.

Primary schools in Manchester, Cheshire and Liverpool have been placed on lockdown following the threats sent on Tuesday morning, with police officers in attendance to “provide reassurance” to staff.

Lache Primary School in Chester told parents in a statement that, having safely continued with learning while officers probed the threats, it was now “happy to release the children but this will need to be in a staggered and controlled way”.

Both Cheshire Constabulary and Greater Manchester Police are investigating, with GMP remarking that it will be providing “assurance” to both schools and the wider public.

Chief Inspector Chris Boyd, of GMP’s City of Manchester Division, said: ”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.”

Have you been affected by this story? If so email joe.middleton@independent.co.uk

Key Points

• Schools on lockdown after email threats to pupils and staff
• Lache Primary School releases students in ‘staggered, controlled’ way as email believed to be ‘malicious hoax'
• Not clear how many other schools have received threats
• High school in Chester confirms it is not currently in lockdown
• Both Cheshire and Greater Manchester Police investigating
• Mapped: Which schools have been impacted?

[12 September 2023 19:35 · Eleanor Noyce]

Parents at Manchester Grammar heard ‘rumours’ about why police were called

Parents and guardians of students at Manchester Grammar School, locked down on Tuesday afternoon amidst threatening emails sent to pupils and teachers, heard “rumours” about why the police were called.

They weren’t told about why officers were called to the school and had no idea of the “nature” of the incident, Manchester Evening News reports.

[12 September 2023 20:01 · Eleanor Noyce]

Police ‘only arrived’ at primary school after parents ‘turned up’, aunt of pupil says

The aunt of a 7-year-old pupil at Lache Primary School has said that there was “no police presence” at the school, with officers “only arriving” after parents “turned up.”

“It was a stressful day as my 7 y/o niece is a pupil. A Lot of parents gathered outside the school after the school posted a very vague Facebook post”, the pupil’s aunt told The Independent.

“There was NO police presence, police only arrived after parents turned up (I assume this was to stop a mob).

“Some parents suggested they would force enter to retrieve their children.

“There was a lack of communication from the schools part and the police. Then after hours of stress no official statement was made and the gates opened.”

[12 September 2023 20:35 · Eleanor Noyce]

School in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire confirms it has not received any malicious messages

A school in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire has confirmed to parents and guardians that it has not received any malicious messages.

“We would like to put your minds at ease, to inform you that we have NOT received any malicious texts or emails here at Sutton Green”, a Facebook post from Sutton Green Primary School read.

“We are aware as you are from local reports, that there is a school affected in Chester but at present we have no further information.”

[12 September 2023 21:04 · Eleanor Noyce]

News comes just one day after number of schools in Hull also placed in lockdown

The latest news comes just one day after a number of schools in Hull were placed in lockdown following malicious emails, The Mirror reports.

Parents and guardians across two primary schools later received communications from the school that following police probes, the messages had turned out to be a “hoax.

[12 September 2023 21:55 · Sam Rkaina]

We’re closing our live coverage for the evening but keep checking independent.co.uk for the latest updates.

[12 September 2023 22:00 · Sam Rkaina]

Mapped: Which schools have been impacted?

Police have launched an investigation after malicious emails were sent to a number of schools in the north-west in what is now believed to be a “malicious hoax.”

Schools in Manchester, Cheshire and Liverpool were placed on lockdown following the threats sent on Tuesday morning, with police officers in attendance to “provide reassurance” to staff.

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