Six schools evacuated after new bomb 'threats' to student safety

The six schools all received bomb scare phone calls at around 9am, leading four schools in Sandwell, one in Dudley and one in Birmingham to evacuate their premises. However police soon revealed that there was 'no credible threat' to the schools.

There were claims today from a Twitter account, calling itself Evacuators 2K16, that it was behind the evacuations. It had previously said: "Want to get out of school for a day? Want to divert the police away from a crime you're going to commit? Email us."

That account has now been suspended, and police would not be drawn on if they were investigating the account.

In London, there were four separate calls to schools across the city claiming devices had been left on premises. Those calls are also being treated as hoaxes.

Bristnall Hall Academy, Oldbury Academy, George Salter Academy and Holly Lodge schools in Sandwell were all evacuated, as was The Earls High School in Halesowen and Four Dwellings Academy in Quinton.

Following a police check of the building Bristnall Hall Academy reopened at 11am, but Oldbury, Four Dwellings and George Salter academies announced that the schools would remain closed for the rest of the day.

Four schools in London and four schools in Cornwall were also evacuated this morning as a result of security threats.

West Midlands Police said that today's phone threats were made in a similar fashion to calls made to four Black Country schools last week.

West Midlands Police Assistant Chief Constable Carl Foulkes today said: "Police intelligence suggests there is no credible threat behind the calls ... they mirror the hoaxes several schools received just a few days ago.

"Local police officers have been sent to the affected schools to carry our checks and to offer reassurance.

"A police investigation is underway to find the person responsible for the calls."

Last Tuesday Oldbury and Bristnall Hall academies, Holly Lodge High School and Leasowes High School were all evacuated after receiving bomb threats via phone calls.

Searches of the schools by West Midlands Police revealed those threats to be fake.

Leasowes School reassured parents via text that no security threat had been received today, while Dudley Council confirmed the only threat in the borough had been to Earls High.

Sandwell Council said the need to put children's safety first had led to the decision to close the schools.

Council leader Darren Cooper said: "To ensure the safety of pupils, head teachers at the schools made the decision to evacuate and pupils were sent home for the day. We are supporting the schools with their decision to put the children's safety first."

The council has opened Hurst Road Community Centre in Oldbury for students who are unable to return home until later in the day.

Councillor Cooper added: "Last week students and schools showed a sensible and rapid response to these threats and that should be the case again today.

"I want to thank parents who have had to change their own arrangements so that they could collect their children early and stress that the safety of students always comes first."

Bristnall Hall and Oldbury academies, less than a mile from each other, announced their closures on Twitter shortly after 9am.

Four Dwellings and George Salter academies also used their social media accounts to inform parents:

Express & Star reporter Clare Butler was at the schools:

Ian Cooper, Dudley Council cabinet member for children's services, said: "Earls High school in Halesowen was evacuated after a bomb threat phone call this morning. Police are investigating the call but say there is 'no credible threat'.

"We are working with West Midlands Police on this incident but would like to reassure parents that the situation was dealt with quickly and safely and there are no suggestions of any threat to any other schools in the Dudley borough."