A Middleton primary school was evacuated after a threatening phone call claimed a bomb had been planted, prompting an emergency police response just before home time
Parents of pupils at Bowlee Park Community School in Middleton rushed to collect their children on Tuesday afternoon, 24 June, after staff received a series of ‘rude’ calls that ended with a chilling bomb threat.
Greater Manchester Police were called just after 3.30pm, triggering an evacuation of the school as officers swept the building for any danger.
A message sent to parents by the school, and seen by local media, stated: “This afternoon the school received a concerning phone call which was reported to police. A young person made several rude phone calls to school and in the final call said ‘I’m going to bomb the school’.
“Following police advice, we acted swiftly to evacuate the building and requested that all children be collected for their safety.”
The incident is now being treated as a hoax, potentially made by a former pupil, and the school reopened as normal on Wednesday.
The hoax bomb scare follows another recent incident at the same school. On Friday 13 June, Bowlee Park Community School went into lockdown following reports of a man seen with a knife on nearby Bowlee Park. Police have said there is no indication the two events are connected.
In response to the latest disruption, the school reassured parents: “We recognise that this is the second incident within two weeks and I understand that this will be concerning for parents and pupils. However, there is nothing to suggest the incidents are in any way linked.
“Safeguarding the children is paramount to us and we continue to fully implement our policies and procedures and work with the police in all emergency situations.”
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed the school was evacuated after the call and said the threat is believed to have been a hoax. It is understood the call was not recorded and the crime log has since been closed.
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