Police to guard schools after second day of bomb threats in NSW

Police will be stationed at high schools across NSW ahead of an anticipated third day of hoax threats

Bowral High School was among 10 regional high schools in NSW forced to evacuate students after ‘threatening emails’ were received during HSC exams.

Police will be stationed at high schools across NSW on Thursday as the state government bolsters security ahead of an anticipated third day of hoax bomb threats and mass evacuations.

A wave of “demented” threats emailed to more than 30 high schools across the state in recent days has led to HSC exams being cancelled and forced thousands of teenagers out of class.

The latest threat — emailed from an anonymous sender to ten regional high schools on Wednesday — is “similar” to a bomb warning that was sent on Tuesday to staff at 20 high schools across Sydney.

NSW Police Minister David Elliott said the bomb hoax was particularly cruel for Year 12 students who are trying to finish exams after a disrupted year.

“It certainly takes a small and demented mind to interrupt HSC students after a traumatic year during a pandemic when the nation is at a heightened state of alert in terrorism,” he said.

“I’m horrified an individual or individuals would find themselves so bored that they would want to disrupt this very important part in these children’s lives.”

He said police will now be able to conduct searches of exam halls and choose not to evacuate if they deem the threat to be a hoax.

Staff and students — including many sitting their HSC Biology examination — were evacuated shortly before 11am on Wednesday after the threatening emails were reported to authorities.

At least 10 regional schools south of Sydney were evacuated on Wednesday, including Kiama High, Bowral High, Nowra High and Moss Vale High.

Officials were forced to cancel HSC exams at 20 high schools in Sydney on Tuesday after staff received an email claiming a “suspicious item” had been identified on school grounds.

“In addition, more than 10 high schools in regional NSW have received a similar email today (Wednesday),” NSW Police said.

NSW Department of Education Secretary Mark Scott said 300 students were disrupted during their HSC biology exam on Wednesday, in addition to 500 students affected on Tuesday.

“It is very disappointing for our students to have any distractions like this particularly after the year they’ve gone through,” he said.

At Nowra High, the evacuation happened with about one hour to go in the popular HSC Biology exam.

On Tuesday, staff at Willoughby Girls High, on Sydney’s north shore, were the first to receive the “threatening email” at about 11am.

The anonymous email was sent to regional high schools on the state’s south coast at about the same time on Wednesday.

Mr Elliott said police would not allow the “bastard behaviour” to continue on Thursday, when thousands of students are expected to sit the HSC Modern History exam.

“You are now liable for a 10-year incarceration in a NSW prison,” he said. “We aren’t going to muck around with this, and I’ve already had a briefing from cybercrime squad and have every confidence they’re going to manage the issue in an appropriate way.”

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said HSC students who were affected by the evacuations would be able to apply for misadventure provisions.

A spokesperson for the NSW Education Standards Authority said schools will be required to submit group applications for misadventure to the authority on behalf of impacted students.