Qld school threats no cause for alarm

Queensland police say threatening phone calls that caused the evacuation of 10 schools are no cause for alarm.

The Gap State High School is seen in Brisbane

Several schools across Queensland have been evacuated after receiving threatening phone calls. (AAP)

Threatening phone calls that sparked the evacuation of 10 Queensland schools don't appear to be credible but will be fully investigated, police say.

Queensland Police are confident the calls originated overseas and have been designed to cause significant disruption and media coverage.

"At this time, there is no credible evidence the threats could be carried out here," police said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Investigations into the threatening phone calls are continuing, but at this time there is no cause for alarm."

Police and Queensland's Department of Education and Training haven't said which schools received the calls.

However, media outlets have named the schools as The Gap State High School, Bounty Boulevard State School, Surfers Paradise State School, Oxenford State School, Caningeraba State School, MacGregor State High School, Buddina State School, Townsville State High School, Woree State High School and Glenmore State High School.

Bounty Boulevard State School principal Paul McSwiney took to Facebook to reassure parents after his school was evacuated.

"There has been a hoax phone call this morning which has resulted in us having to evacuate the school to the oval," he posted on the school P&C's Facebook page.

"All students are safe and are resuming learning. There is no necessity to contact the school."

Four plain-clothes detectives were seen leaving The Gap State High School, while the bomb squad searched Townsville State High school for "suspect devices".

Queensland police commissioner Ian Stewart has briefed Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on the threats.

Schools in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, and the ACT were also evacuated in the latest round of threatening calls on Tuesday.


Share
2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world