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Irish schools receive mass shooting threat via email; police increase patrols
🇮🇪 Ireland /Crime & Justice

Irish schools receive mass shooting threat via email; police increase patrols

From Irish Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Twenty primary schools in County Carlow, Ireland, received emails threatening a mass shooting on Wednesday morning.
  • Garda patrols have been increased near all 42 primary schools in the county as investigations into the email's origin and credibility are underway.
  • Some schools closed for the day, while authorities are also investigating the possibility of a follow-up ransomware attack.

High-visibility Garda patrols are now in place near all 42 primary schools in County Carlow after 20 institutions received an email on Wednesday morning threatening a mass shooting. Gardaí are investigating the credibility of the message, which they believe was routed through another country and received shortly after 7 a.m.

High visibility patrols have been in place throughout the day and indeed for the coming days in the environs of all 42 primary schools in Co Carlow.

— Garda statementThis quote highlights the increased security measures implemented in response to the threat.

Authorities have established an investigation team at Carlow Garda station and have been in contact with all affected schools. Lines of communication have been opened with the Department of Education. Superintendent Anthony Farrell stated that efforts are underway to identify the sender and determine the message's credibility, noting there was no advance warning. He urged school management to conduct a cursory search of their buildings and grounds.

A process is under way to establish the identity of sender and credibility of message. There was no advance warning of this email.

— Supt Anthony FarrellThis quote details the ongoing investigation and the lack of prior intelligence.

Some schools made the decision to close for the day, with at least 11 shutting their doors after receiving the email. Students were either told not to attend or sent home. Scoil Mhuire gan Smál in Carlow town informed parents it would not open due to the threatening email, citing the safety and well-being of the school community. Parents are advised to follow updates directly from their schools and avoid sharing unverified information.

There is a possibility this email will be followed up by a ransomware attack – I ask that you do not click any links in any follow-up email. Advise Carlow Garda station instead.

— Supt Anthony FarrellThis quote warns of a potential secondary threat and advises on how to respond.

There is a possibility that the email could be followed by a ransomware attack, and individuals are warned not to click on any links in follow-up emails, but instead to advise Carlow Garda station. Local Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne, who is also a principal, confirmed the email originated from an unknown Gmail account and detailed a threat of a mass shooting. He stated that while vigilance is necessary, schools must avoid over- or under-reacting, emphasizing that Garda advice is paramount. It is understood that no secondary schools have received similar emails.

God knows where it came from. The email detailed that there would be mass shooting in the schools.

— Fergal BrowneThis quote expresses the uncertainty of the email's origin and reiterates the nature of the threat.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Irish Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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