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Bomb scares at four West Midlands schools | Bomb scares at four West Midlands schools |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thousands of pupils were evacuated as four schools in the West Midlands received bomb scare calls. | Thousands of pupils were evacuated as four schools in the West Midlands received bomb scare calls. |
Students at Holly Lodge, Oldbury Academy and Bristnall Hall in Sandwell were evacuated and lessons at Leasowes High School in Halesowen were halted. | Students at Holly Lodge, Oldbury Academy and Bristnall Hall in Sandwell were evacuated and lessons at Leasowes High School in Halesowen were halted. |
The schools received the threats between 09:00 GMT and 09:30, West Midlands Police said. | The schools received the threats between 09:00 GMT and 09:30, West Midlands Police said. |
The force said all students were safe and an inquiry was under way to find out who was responsible for the calls. | The force said all students were safe and an inquiry was under way to find out who was responsible for the calls. |
Follow live updates on this story as they happen | Follow live updates on this story as they happen |
It said at lunchtime that the four schools had been given the all clear. | |
Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper said schools had "done the right thing" in evacuating pupils. | |
He said: "We evacuated the schools on the basis of safety..... we erred on the side of caution." | |
Alan Brockhouse said he was "beyond angry" at Leasowes school's handling of the incident. | |
He said: "They put them in the halls together. If they were going to be attacked they're all in one place. It's chaos. I dread to think what could have happened and how many could have died. | |
"They said they checked it out and it was safe, but you're telling me they're checking everywhere all over and know it's ok?" | |
Leasowes High School head teacher Neil Shaw said: "We acted quickly to inform police immediately and evacuated the school within a few minutes. | |
"Lessons have now returned to normal, but some children have gone home with parents. | |
"The safety and welfare of our children is obviously our top priority and I'm grateful to staff and emergency services for the way they dealt with this difficult situation." | |
Two Oldbury Academy students told BBC WM that pupils and teachers were "panicking" as the school was evacuated. | |
A 15-year-old said: "A few people were running down the street, running away from the school." | |
Francesca Spratt, a sixth form student at Bristnall Hall Academy, said a senior member of staff entered her biology class and asked students to collect their things and leave as quickly as possible. | |
She said: "Nobody was told why we were being evacuated but all of the students left the school very calmly, there was no running or mass panic." | She said: "Nobody was told why we were being evacuated but all of the students left the school very calmly, there was no running or mass panic." |
Jack Beckett, a student at Bristnall Hall Academy in Oldbury, said: "My teacher was pretty scared, she was shaking a bit and told us to please leave. | |
"We thought it was a gas leak, but then we found out other schools had to be evacuated as well." | |
Its principal, Vince Green, said: "Police took the threat very seriously, that is the most important point. They recommended we evacuate the academy, which is exactly what I have done." | |
The affected schools | The affected schools |
Councillor Ian Cooper, cabinet member for children's services at Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, said the Leasowes High School alert "turned out to be a bomb hoax". | |
He said there was "no suggestion of any other threat to other schools in Dudley borough". | He said there was "no suggestion of any other threat to other schools in Dudley borough". |
Mr Cooper said: "We can reassure parents that the situation was dealt with quickly and safely." | Mr Cooper said: "We can reassure parents that the situation was dealt with quickly and safely." |
Lessons at the school have now resumed. | |
Pupils at the three Sandwell schools were sent home. | Pupils at the three Sandwell schools were sent home. |
Sandwell Council said the Harry Mitchell Centre in Broomfield, Smethwick, had been opened as a rest centre for children who were not able to get home. | |
Avon and Somerset Police said four bomb hoaxes at schools in the Bristol area were not believed to be linked to the West Midlands alerts. | Avon and Somerset Police said four bomb hoaxes at schools in the Bristol area were not believed to be linked to the West Midlands alerts. |
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "Investigations are at the early stages. | |
"If any connections with other offences locally or further afield come to light, they will be examined." | |
Earlier the force said a police investigation was under way to find the person responsible for the calls. |