Gold Coast school Palm Beach Currumbin closed by police over emergency situation today

MENACING threats using smart phone ‘air drop’ system sends one of the Gold Coast’s biggest schools scrambling into lockdown twice in one morning.

“ENJOY the bomb.”

That was the menacing message written on an envelope left at the gates of one of Queensland’s biggest schools today, students said they were told.

Police have revealed they are questioning several Palm Beach-Currumbin High students and could lay criminal charges after identifying suspects when a second threat was made using a smart phone’s ‘air drop’ system.

Police say the second threat was made on school grounds after the campus was re-opened mid-morning following the first lockdown.

It was received on smart phones by many students and staff.

The second threat prompted a second lockdown but the school has now re-opened.

Officers are examining CCTV footage of a youth riding a push bike dropping off the envelope containing white powder - believed to be flour - about 5.30am.

“They just told us there was a note with flour, and it said ‘enjoy the bomb’,” a student told media.

EARLIER: The Gold Coast school sent into lockdown twice today after a suspicious package was found has re-opened.

Palm Beach-Currumbin High’s school bells were sent ringing again and students were sent back on to the oval at about 10am, after the initial two-hour lockdown ended about 8.20am.

They were later moved to the school hall. The second lockdown ended about 11.45am.

The school had issued a statement via Facebook during the second lockdown to say all were safe.

“Following further information from Queensland Police Service PBC staff and students will remain in a lockdown mode,” the post read.

“Following Department of Education & Training protocols we are unable to release any students offsite, at this point in time, until we have been given a complete Police clearance of the school.

“We understand that this is a stressful time but please be assured we are making all decisions in the best interest of your young person.”

It also said parents could collect their children if they wanted to, through “school office protocols”.

Police confirmed the campus had been in a “precautionary lockdown” relating to the package found earlier this morning.

“Initial investigations suggest that around 6am a school employee located an envelope with a threat written on the outside and a white powdery substance inside, on school grounds. Police attended and the school was placed in lockdown,” police said.

“Around 9.30am Queensland Fire and Emergency Services officers determined that the white powder located inside the envelope was non-toxic.

“No one was injured as a result of the incident.

“The school remains in lockdown as a precaution while police continue their investigations,” the statement, released before the school re-opened about 11.45am, said.

Parents at the school had claimed a second envelope was found near science block but this has not been confirmed.

Gates locked at Palm Beach-Currumbin High amid 2nd suspicious package scare pic.twitter.com/o2MnAC4rQx

— Greg Stolz (@GregStolzJourno) May 3, 2017

“All the students are in the (school) hall — they’re all safe, it’s just a precaution,” one said.

“But no-one’s being allowed in or out. Everyone’s been told to turn off their phones.”

Police on the scene of 'suspect package' incident at Palm Beach-Currumbin High. pic.twitter.com/elHuu65xcx

— Greg Stolz (@GregStolzJourno) May 2, 2017

EARLIER:

ONE of the Gold Coast’s biggest schools was sent into lockdown this morning after a suspicious package, believed to contain white powder and a threatening note, was found.

Police and emergency services swarmed on Palm Beach-Currumbin High about 6am after the package was found by a cleaner. It’s believed there was a threatening note on the package.

Parents were sent texts and emails about 7am advising them of the incident and telling them the school was closed.

The school remained closed for more than two hours before police deemed the incident a hoax, although one classroom remained closed at 8.50am while Queensland Fire and Emergency Services chemicals experts test the suspicious substance.

“We don’t have a lot of detail until our scientific unit analyses the package,” QFES acting inspector Nathan Meyer said.

Mr Meyer slammed whoever was responsible for the chaos at the school, which has 2500 students.

“It’s frustrating on behalf of all emergency services,” he said.

“It’s a good question (why the hoax occurred). At the end of the day I guess people will be people.

“I’m not sure why they just like to cause disruption and havoc but it’s up to us to respond.”

Earlier, parents were left worried and confused after receiving a text message.

“We just got a message saying the school was closed until further notice,” said parent Vicki Kelly, who has two teenage daughters at PBC.

“It’s a bit of a worry. They have to take it seriously.

“You wonder why someone would do something like this.”

Students and staff who turned up to the school were sent to the oval as police investigated.

Police declared the school safe about 8.20am and students were allowed inside.

The school said there would be a whole staff and student assembly at 9am before classes resume as normal.

Originally published as Gold Coast school Palm Beach Currumbin closed by police over emergency situation today