Teenager arrested over mass school bomb hoax that saw Walsall College evacuated
A teenager has been arrested after a mass bomb hoax closed hundreds of schools and colleges across the UK.
Thousands of students were evacuated from Walsall College on Monday after hoax emails were sent to more than 400 schools.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said there was “no credible threat to the emails”.
Walsall College has around 15,000 students enrolled across campuses in Wisemore, Green Lane, Broadway and Portland Street and was one of a number of institutions targeted in the West Midlands, the region's police force said.
A 19-year-old man was arrested by Hertfordshire police in Watford on Wednesday evening on suspicion of blackmail and making malicious communications.
The NCA said in a statement: “We understand parents’ and teachers’ concerns but stress there was no credible threat to the emails schools received.
“However we are taking the communications extremely seriously.
“As this is a live investigation we are unable to comment further.”
