‘Death awaits you’: Bomb threat email sent to Carlow schools revealed
The Department of Education said it consulted with gardaí on the issue
THE DETAILS of the bomb threat email which was sent to over 150 schools across the country, including a number in Carlow, can be revealed in full for the first time.
The correspondence, which has been seen by Limerick Live, states in the subject line - “Death awaits you”.
The email begins with “Greetings”.
It continues: “We are Hamas militants. Today we planted an explosive device in your building.”
The email, which was sent at around 10.30am on Wednesday when all schools were closed due to the public sector strike, is being treated as a hoax.
The person or persons behind it demands “an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as well as that the European Union withdraw its support for Israel” and “you have one hour before dozens of people are blown to pieces”.
The author says that the “explosive device was carefully crafted and contains a timer that will remotely detonate it once the specified time has elapsed”.
“To prevent detection by sniffer dogs, it was placed in vacuum-sealed bag, which makes it impossible to find,” the correspondence continues.
The email concludes with “Allahu Akbar” - an Arabic phrase which means “God is the greatest”.
The Department of Education said it consulted with gardaí on the issue, who advised any school in receipt of the email to contact gardaí.
“The department communicated this advice to schools and boards of management, management bodies, and unions,” it said in a statement to The Irish Times.
“On this basis, the department anticipates that Boards of Management will have regard to the advice from An Garda Síochána, and schools can continue to operate as normal unless otherwise advised by An Garda Síochána.”
Gardaí said they are “aware of a communication” that was sent to a number of schools on Wednesday.
It is being treated as an unsettling hoax.