Brisbane high schools evacuated over bomb threats
Education Queensland says it will work with schools and students after Year 12 exams were interrupted after bomb threats were emailed, with more than a dozen campuses forced to evacuate.
QLD News
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At least a dozen Brisbane area schools were evacuated this afternoon following a series of bomb threats.
Schools reportedly threatened included Albany Creek High School, North Lakes High School, Bray Park High School, Aspley High School, Bribie Island High School, Clontarf Beach, Caboolture State High School and Pine Rivers High School.
Ferny Grove High School, Everton Park High School and Sandgate High School have also had threats.
A number on Brisbane’s southside also reportedly received threats, including Bundamba State Secondary College and Balmoral, Rochedale and Cavendish Road State Highs.
A Queensland Police spokesman told The Courier-Mail they were aware of the reports against the schools and were investigating.
It’s believed police have attended an most schools have allowed students to return to classrooms.
The threats, which were sent via email, follow a number of false bomb hoaxes made against high schools in NSW in recent days, with police suspecting it’s a copycat at work.
The evacuations came as General Mathematics and Specialist Mathematics exams were scheduled for year 12 students this afternoon.
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority chief executive Chris Rider said they wanted to assure school communities that they could still calculate fair subject results “even if a student has missed an exam or only partially completed one”.
“Paper 2 in General Mathematics and Specialist Mathematics will go ahead on Friday as planned,” he said.
In a statement to parents Bray Park State High school told parents there police had checked the school and were given the all clear.
“Parents are advised that we have undertaken a precautionary evacuation of the school. This is occurring in several schools at present due to an email threat going around. All students are safe and police are doing a check now to ensure the school is safe for students to return to classes soon,” Principal Peter Turner said.
In a social media statement to parents Bribie Island State High School said the school went into lockdown today due to an email threat.
“The Police will attend to investigate. The safety and welfare of your children and that of our staff is our utmost priority.”
Bundamba State High School has confirmed the scare to parents this afternoon, saying in a message sent out: “To all parents: school evacuated today due to email threat. QPS attended and gave all-clear. All students/staff are safe.
Albany Creek High has also been given the all clear.
Meanwhile, Caboolture State High School students were evacuated to the back undercover sports hall after police received a bomb threat earlier today.
The evacuation started at about 12.40pm.
Multiple police crews attended the school and left at about 2.30pm.
A parent of a Year 12 student, who was at the school to pick him up after his maths exam said she realised something was wrong when she saw the police cars.
She learned about the bomb threats at other schools on social media.
She said it wasn’t fair after all these Year 12 students had been through to have now had their ATAR exams interrupted.
“They have had enough to deal with this year,” she said.
Another parent, who has two children at the school, said her children had called her to let her know about the incident.
Caboolture State High School issued a notice to parents via social media reassuring them their children were safe.
“We had an evacuation at Caboolture SHS,” it read.
“All is now resolved and students are back in class.”
Meanwhile, Albany Creek State High School parents were kept updated of the events happening on its campus via social media.
“We are currently having an evacuation. This is not a drill,” said a post issued by the school around 1.30pm.
The updates continued as the situation progressed.
“All parents please note that the evacuation has now finished and the normal school day has recommenced.
“School leadership and currently talking with students.”
Bray Park State High School alerted parents to the situation affecting students via a Facebook post earlier today.
“Evacuation notice. Parents are advised that we have undertaken a precautionary evacuation of the school,” the message from principal Peter Turner read.
“This is occurring in several schools at present due to an email going around.
“All students are safe and police are doing a check now to ensure the school is safe for students to return to classes soon.”
In a statement on social media this afternoon, Ferny Grove State High School Execute Principal John Schuh confirmed Year 12 students were sitting assessment at the time of the threat and the school will be consulting QCAA to determine the best response going forward.
“Year 12 students who were sitting their external assessment have also been briefed, and the school is in consultation with QCAA to determine the necessary course of action to ensure no student is disadvantaged,” Mr Schuh wrote.
An Education Department spokesman confirmed the department was aware of the bomb threats.
“Emergency services were notified and all schools followed the department’s protocol for responding to bomb threats,” he said.
“The Queensland Police Service has searched all affected schools and has given the all-clear. All staff and students are safe and well.”
“Schools will work with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority to ensure students are not adversely impacted by any interruption to testing the threats may have caused.”
The spokesman said police investigations are ongoing and that the Department is unable to give further detail at this time but urged anyone with information to contact Policelink on 131444 or visit www.police.qld.gov.au and submit a ‘Suspicious Activity Report’.
