T&T: Schools evacuated after bomb threats

CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and the National Security Minister, Fitzgerald Hinds, Friday warned those responsible for sending bomb threats by emails to schools across the island that they would be pursued and deal with according to law.

Several schools were evacuated as the threats were received at around 8.00 am (local time) and Hinds, who was addressing a function here, said “the bomb threats are not being taken lightly and therefore the police, the Fire Service and the other elements (of security) are already engaged in treating with the situation”.

Police said they had received 10 reports of bomb threats of schools on both islands and that “preliminary reports indicate that these threats were sent to schools via email.

In the messages sent to the schools, they were informed that “explosives are planted …on the buildings” and that they intend to “kill everyone”.

“No one will be left alive. Trinidad will bleed, soon very soon a sea of blood will be spilled” the message added. The TTPS said it is “actively investigating all such reports, as these incidents are treated as high priority. Additionally, the matter is currently engaging the attention of the Cyber Crime Unit, the Special Branch, our bomb technicians and all Divisional Commanders where affected schools are located”.

“The TTPS is also warning all persons who are responsible for these threats that these matters will be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” the police warned.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), Martin Lum Kin, said schools across the country have been dismissed as his members are not taking any chances.

“Schools would have taken the necessary steps in order to ensure the safety of the occupants,” he said, adding that “TTUTA condemns in the strongest terms, this attempt to disrupt the whole running and the psychological effect”.

The TTUTA president said he is hoping the relevant authorities can investigate the matter quickly “and something comes out of it”.

Earlier, the Ministry of Education “strongly” condemned the bomb threats made to several schools resulting in the evacuation of students.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education said that following the threats “in all cases, students have been evacuated” and that it is working closely with the various law enforcement agencies “ to resolve these situation”.

The ministry said that school principals have been “instructed to apprise parents and to keep them updated on these developments”.

“The Ministry of Education strongly condemns these reckless actions which destablize our nation schools and interrupt the education of our students. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the TTPS forthwith,” the ministry added.

The opposition spokesperson on education, Anita Haynes, also condemned the bomb threats.

“Our nation’s schools must be safe spaces for our children. Any attempt or threat of violence to our students must be addressed with utmost urgency”.

“We have seen how the fear of violence has negatively impacted education sectors across the world. As a nation, we must treat with these instances seriously, not allowing such fears to take root in our schools,” Haynes said.

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