POLICE are investigating an email that has been sent to schools across the north this morning.

It's believed that the schools in question received a bomb threat.

In a statement the PSNI said: "Police received reports today, Monday 19th October, of an email sent to a number of schools across Northern Ireland.

"As a result of this email, police are conducting urgent enquiries, and liaising with the schools in question.  An update will be provided in due course."

St Dominic's Grammar School on the Falls Road was one of the schools to receive the email threat this morning.

In a letter to parents, Principal Orla O’Neill said that once the school received the email they contacted the PSNI and the Education Authority Critical Incident Team.
 
"I have since been informed by the PSNI that they believe this threat to be a hoax," she said. "We have also conducted our own checks throughout the premises and deem the school to be safe. Therefore, the school day is continuing as normal.
 
"I fully appreciate that receiving this information may cause concern. Please be assured that the safety and well-being of our pupils and staff remains our highest priority, and we will continue to follow the advice and guidance provided by the PSNI and Education Authority."

Police later confirmed the threatening emails are being treated as a hoax.

They said up to 300 schools to date reported to police receiving the same emailed message which contained a generalised threat. It is believed similar emails have been received by some schools across UK. It's believe the threat originated from outside the UK, police added.  

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: "We take incidents of this nature very seriously and we understand the concern in the community, not to mention the disruption it has caused in some school communities and for students and parents.

"Our enquiries are ongoing, however, at this stage we consider risk to the public as low. We will continue to liaise with schools impacted and have been working closely with the Department of Education and the Education Authority this morning to provide reassurance.

"We urge everyone, in the meantime, to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to police immediately by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency."