Colleges targeted with 'bomb' threats (From Daily Echo)
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Metropolitan Police believe threats to Brockenhurst College and Eastleigh College linked to other incidents around UK
10:22am Friday 25th May 2012 in Education
By Jon Reeve, Education Reporter
Brockenhurst College
TWO HAMPSHIRE colleges have been targeted in separate bomb scares today.
Students due to take A level exams faced nervous delays as they were evacuated while police rushed to Brockenhurst College and carried out an urgent search of the site.
Meanwhile, a search was also carried out at Eastleigh College after a similar email was received, claiming an explosive device had been planted on the campus.
Police believe both threats were part of a linked series of “malicious communications” aimed at education establishments around the country.
In a separate incident outside Brockenhurst College today, a female student reportedly on her way to sit an exam was hit by an ambulance on a 999 call. She was treated at the scene before being taken to Southampton General Hospital, although her injuries are not thought to be serious.
The alarm was raised after the emails were received at around 9am.
After a search of Brockenhurst College was carried out, the all-clear was given and staff and students have been allowed back on site, with exams getting underway at 10am.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police in London, which is co-ordinating the operation responding to the threats, said: “The Metropolitan Police Service is investigating a suspected linked series of malicious communications sent to a number of educational organisations around the UK.”
He refused to give further details about today’s incidents, or reveal which other schools or colleges have been targeted, although he said the threats have been ongoing around the country since April.
A spokeswoman for Brockenhurst College said the threat had been made early this morning, and the site was evacuated before most students had arrived for the day.
Staff and students arriving at the gates were kept outside for around 45 minutes before being allowed inside.
She said: “We had a hoax email this morning.
“Once the police were satisfied we all returned to the college and the exams started with a slight delay.”
Paul Hindson, marketing manager at Eastleigh College said the decision had been made with police not to evacuate the site.
He said: “We’ve undertaken a full search of the campus and college buildings and nothing was found.
“We have police on site, and in liaison with them we took the decision not to evacuate.
“It’s rare for these things to happen, but we have a systematic procedure and processes in place to deal with such things, so we’re well prepared and there was no disruption.”
It comes just two days after a bomb scare forced the evacuation of a Dorset school.
All-boys Poole Grammar School was cordoned off on Wednesday morning after a malicious email was sent claiming an incendiary device had been placed on campus.
A thorough search of the site was carried out, but nothing untoward was found.
Comments(17)
Goldenwight
says...
11:39am Fri 25 May 12
St Retford wrote:There certainly was a case a couple of years ago where a US student sent a bomb hoax to avoid an exam and wound up in Prison, but this appears to be a little more sophisticated- with a number of colleges targetted, it is a lot harder to find the responsible party.
Hmmm, a bomb scare during exam season, you say? I wonder what on earth might have happened there...
Donald2000
says...
12:25pm Fri 25 May 12
St Retford wrote:I think you are implying that some student with a wish not to do his or her examinations might have done this. Whereas commonsense would dictate that most normal students who did not wish to take an examination would just absent themselves. I think most people know that an examination would have to be done eventually, whether or not there is a security alert. I hope that's demolished your thoughtless argument.
Hmmm, a bomb scare during exam season, you say? I wonder what on earth might have happened there...
Paramjit Bahia
says...
12:28pm Fri 25 May 12
likewatchingbrazil
says...
1:09pm Fri 25 May 12
Donald2000 wrote:i'm sure your pompous statement has demolished his thoughtless arguement. i quite liked it but then i have a sense of humour.
St Retford wrote: Hmmm, a bomb scare during exam season, you say? I wonder what on earth might have happened there...I think you are implying that some student with a wish not to do his or her examinations might have done this. Whereas commonsense would dictate that most normal students who did not wish to take an examination would just absent themselves. I think most people know that an examination would have to be done eventually, whether or not there is a security alert. I hope that's demolished your thoughtless argument.
Chipster
says...
1:10pm Fri 25 May 12
Donald2000 wrote:Lighten up Donald Duck! His comments were made tongue in cheek. Jesus man, get a life as well as a sense of humour!
St Retford wrote:I think you are implying that some student with a wish not to do his or her examinations might have done this. Whereas commonsense would dictate that most normal students who did not wish to take an examination would just absent themselves. I think most people know that an examination would have to be done eventually, whether or not there is a security alert. I hope that's demolished your thoughtless argument.
Hmmm, a bomb scare during exam season, you say? I wonder what on earth might have happened there...
sass
says...
2:16pm Fri 25 May 12
Georgem
says...
3:40pm Fri 25 May 12
Donald2000 wrote:I don't know if you know this, but before an exam, it's traditional for some people to carry out a practice known as "preparation", which involves acquainting oneself with material pertaining to the exam in question. If this "preparation" has not been done prior to the exam, there lies an advantage in postponing the exam for a short while, to allow "preparation" to take place.
St Retford wrote:I think you are implying that some student with a wish not to do his or her examinations might have done this. Whereas commonsense would dictate that most normal students who did not wish to take an examination would just absent themselves. I think most people know that an examination would have to be done eventually, whether or not there is a security alert. I hope that's demolished your thoughtless argument.
Hmmm, a bomb scare during exam season, you say? I wonder what on earth might have happened there...
bigal007
says...
3:48pm Fri 25 May 12
Writers Cramp
says...
6:27pm Fri 25 May 12
sass wrote:I think you'll find it's AN Ambulance. Besides which, if you were correct, how many hoops does AN article go through before you read it ? At least 3!
Really Reeve, a (sic) ambulance? The irony of being Education Reporter.
solomum
says...
6:57pm Fri 25 May 12
Georgem wrote:That does not explain why several colleges were targeted though.
Donald2000 wrote:I don't know if you know this, but before an exam, it's traditional for some people to carry out a practice known as "preparation", which involves acquainting oneself with material pertaining to the exam in question. If this "preparation" has not been done prior to the exam, there lies an advantage in postponing the exam for a short while, to allow "preparation" to take place.
St Retford wrote:I think you are implying that some student with a wish not to do his or her examinations might have done this. Whereas commonsense would dictate that most normal students who did not wish to take an examination would just absent themselves. I think most people know that an examination would have to be done eventually, whether or not there is a security alert. I hope that's demolished your thoughtless argument.
Hmmm, a bomb scare during exam season, you say? I wonder what on earth might have happened there...
Huffter
says...
7:02pm Fri 25 May 12
Georgem
says...
7:36pm Fri 25 May 12
Writers Cramp wrote:You missed the (sic) then?
sass wrote:I think you'll find it's AN Ambulance. Besides which, if you were correct, how many hoops does AN article go through before you read it ? At least 3!
Really Reeve, a (sic) ambulance? The irony of being Education Reporter.
Georgem
says...
7:37pm Fri 25 May 12
solomum wrote:I never said it did. Donald was mightily informing us that exams are inevitable, and I was telling him that there's something to be gained from postponing them.
Georgem wrote:That does not explain why several colleges were targeted though.
Donald2000 wrote:I don't know if you know this, but before an exam, it's traditional for some people to carry out a practice known as "preparation", which involves acquainting oneself with material pertaining to the exam in question. If this "preparation" has not been done prior to the exam, there lies an advantage in postponing the exam for a short while, to allow "preparation" to take place.
St Retford wrote:I think you are implying that some student with a wish not to do his or her examinations might have done this. Whereas commonsense would dictate that most normal students who did not wish to take an examination would just absent themselves. I think most people know that an examination would have to be done eventually, whether or not there is a security alert. I hope that's demolished your thoughtless argument.
Hmmm, a bomb scare during exam season, you say? I wonder what on earth might have happened there...
sass
says...
8:25pm Fri 25 May 12
Writers Cramp wrote:You got to the party a little bit late. The article has been amended to read an.
sass wrote: Really Reeve, a (sic) ambulance? The irony of being Education Reporter.I think you'll find it's AN Ambulance. Besides which, if you were correct, how many hoops does AN article go through before you read it ? At least 3!
Solomon's Boot
says...
8:07am Sat 26 May 12
Nine Toes.
says...
7:20pm Sun 27 May 12
St Retford says...
11:24am Fri 25 May 12