East Adelaide School in lockdown after ‘several’ bomb threats sent via email

Adelaide authorities confirmed that “15 other schools approximately received the same threat.”

2 min read

August 22, 2023 - 12:13PM

East Adelaide School has been placed into lock down following an alleged bomb threat. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

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Police are investigating a string of alleged bomb threats across South Australia after 15 schools received alarming emails pipe bombs were hidden among the grounds.

East Adelaide School alerted families to keep their children at home after receiving a bomb threat via email early Tuesday morning.

“This morning we were notified really early via email that there was a bomb threat to the school (that) there were several pipe bombs place around the school,” East Adelaide School principal Vicki Stravinski said.

“That gave us enough time to evacuation processes in place.”

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East Adelaide School has been placed into lock down following an alleged bomb threat. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Approximately 15 schools in Adelaide received bomb threats via email

Ms Stravinsky said authorities had told her “15 other schools approximately that received the same threat”.

Parents were informed via email from the school that students who were already at school or sports training would be evacuated off site as per its emergency procedures.

“We notified our parents through a central messaging process before 8.30am,” Ms Stravinski said.

“The majority of our parents did not bring their children to school, which is just outstanding.

“We have 560 students attending East Adelaide School however we probably had less than 90 who came to school this morning.”

South Australia Police are investigating a string of alleged bomb threats across the state. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Police investigating a string of similar alleged threats

The decision to close the school comes as South Australia Police investigate a string of similar alleged threats were made in recent days.

A South Australian Police spokeswoman said police are investigating the email after an escalation in alleged threats across the state.

“South Australian Police are aware of a number of calls and emails relating to threats on Schools and Health care facilities,” she said.

“These have been reported across the metropolitan and regional areas in the last week, and more increasingly in the last 24 hours.

“Police have commenced an investigation in relation to the source of these threats, and will prosecute any individual identified to be involved in the dissemination of these threats.”

The spokeswoman urged businesses to “carry out normal protocols around security if they are the recipient of one of these threats”.

Ms Stravinski said the school those children on site when the bomb threat occurred knew how to follow the evacuation process.

“We’ve been through this process before in 2017 and I remained calm having gone through that process in previous years,” she said.

“I know it’s highly emotive but it’s really important that I take one step at a time and put the needs of the families and our children before my own.

“There was no real emotion of panic, it was that calm, orderly fashion that principals all now have to put in place and follow.”

The SA Education Department has been contacted for comment.