Bomb threat which closed Lancaster school was hoax, say police

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 09:45

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Police at Central Lancaster High School on Tuesday morning.

A high school in Lancaster was closed and pupils sent home after a bomb threat - which police have now deemed to be a hoax.

Staff and pupils were evacuated from Central Lancaster High School on Tuesday morning after receiving the 'malicious communication'.

Police were called to the scene and conducted a thorough search before declaring the site to be safe.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: "At 8:17am today (Tuesday 28^th January) we received reports of a reported bomb threat at Central Lancaster High School, Crag Road, Lancaster.

"The school evacuated the premises as a precaution in line with their procedures, with support from our officers.

"A safety cordon was also put in place.

"Following a thorough search of the school, it has been deemed a hoax.

"We take these matters extremely seriously and anybody discovered to be responsible for the hoax will be dealt with robustly."

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting log 231 of 28^th January 2025.

Below, a police vehicle at the school on Tuesday morning.

John Cowper of The Bay Learning Trust which runs Central Lancaster High School, said: "Following malicious communication received this morning the school site has been declared safe by police who have conducted extensive operations.

"School will re-open as normal for all pupils tomorrow, Wednesday 29 January, and we look forward to welcoming their return."

Earlier, Mr Cowper said: “We can confirm the school site was shut down at approximately 8.30am and remains closed until further notice following an email threat.

“The site was quickly evacuated including all staff and pupils and we have advised all parents of the situation and sent the pupils home. Police were quickly on the scene to make safety checks and we are working with them through this process.

“We would like to praise all of our pupils and staff for responding so swiftly and calmly and we will be communicating with parents as we receive further updates.”

This video shows a police dog and officers at the school on Tuesday morning.

A message to parents and carers, from the school, said: "We have received a threat to the school via email and police are assisting us with the communication received.

"Pupils who have already arrived at school have been sent home.

"We will update you later today once we have more information."

A message on the school website said: "School is closed today, January 28. School will provide an update as soon as one is available. Please do not send your child to school today."

More photos below from the school on Tuesday.