A total of 196 schools in Highland received a threatening email this morning. Following the incident, schools reviewed their emergency protocols, with most evacuating pupils as a precautionary measure while further information was sought from Police Scotland.
Police Scotland confirmed the messages were being treated as hoaxes, leading schools to contact parents regarding arrangements for the remainder of the day. While some schools were able to reopen, others remained closed due to practicalities of returning pupils who had already been collected.
“"Our enquiries have established that there is nothing to suggest that they represent a credible threat or that there is any wider threat to the public."
A statement released by Police Scotland at 10:30 am on Thursday, 11 November 2026, stated that the messages were immediately assessed and are being treated as hoaxes. Their enquiries indicated no credible threat to the public.
Police Scotland acknowledged the distress such messages can cause to pupils, parents, carers, and school staff. They advised that there is no requirement to evacuate schools or keep children away from education based solely on the emails, which were sent widely across the UK and Northern Ireland.
The Police Scotland Cyber and Fraud Unit is conducting extensive enquiries to trace the source of the messages, liaising with law enforcement partners across the UK and internationally. All schools are expected to open as normal tomorrow.
