Schools across the Highlands were caught up in a fresh wave of bomb threats this morning, Wednesday 11 November, with pupils evacuated and sent home as emergency procedures were activated across Scotland.

Nairn Academy, Culloden Academy and Tain Royal Academy were among the Highland schools affected, with parents receiving urgent messages as staff responded to the threatening communications.

At Nairn Academy, pupils were sent home following an emergency closure, while reports indicated that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had attended several schools across the Highland Council area.

The disruption followed threatening emails sent to schools throughout Scotland and elsewhere in the UK, just three weeks after a similar incident on 19 October.

More than 270 Scottish schools were reported to have received the latest messages, although Police Scotland has not confirmed a final national figure.

Lochaber High School in Fort William was also aware of the threats but advised parents that it did not intend to evacuate, while continuing to monitor developments.

Police Scotland has confirmed that the messages were immediately assessed and are being treated as hoaxes, with enquiries finding nothing to suggest a credible threat or any wider danger to the public.

Officers have advised that schools do not need to evacuate or keep children away from education based solely on the content of the emails.

The force’s Cyber and Fraud Unit is now investigating the source of the messages, working alongside law enforcement agencies across the UK and internationally.

The latest incident has prompted renewed political calls for those responsible to be identified and held accountable.

North East Scotland MSP and justice spokesperson Yi-pei Chou Turvey, whose own child was evacuated from a school in Aberdeenshire, said:

“Councils and schools must always act with the utmost caution when issues like this arise but I am glad that the police have been able to swiftly make clear that there is no threat.

“However, this is now the second time that schools, teachers and pupils have been disrupted by threats like this in recent weeks.

“The Scottish Government needs to send a message that hoax messages like this are utterly unacceptable and that those responsible will be diligently and relentlessly hunted down.

“I wish the police the best of luck with their investigations.”

The incidents have placed school staff in the difficult position of responding to potentially serious threats while awaiting confirmation from police about whether any genuine danger exists.

For parents, the sight of schools being evacuated and children sent home without an immediate explanation has understandably caused concern.

Police Scotland has acknowledged the distress caused to pupils, parents, carers and school employees, while emphasising that its assessment has found no credible threat.

The latest investigation follows the earlier round of threatening communications on 19 October, which officers also assessed as a hoax.

With schools across the country disrupted for a second time in less than a month, attention is now turning to identifying the source of the messages and preventing further incidents.

Police Scotland’s investigation remains ongoing, with officers continuing to work with partner agencies to establish who sent the threats.