Gardaí declare widespread email bomb threats to Cork schools a hoax

Schools across Cork were evacuated on 11 November 2026 after receiving a wave of emailed bomb threats. Irishexaminer.com reported that Gardaí investigated the messages and informed the affected schools that the threats were a hoax. Students who had been evacuated were subsequently allowed to return to their classrooms. [1][2]

Irishexaminer.com reported that a threatening email sent to numerous schools warned that an explosive device was hidden in a plastic bag. Star of the Sea Primary School in Passage West sent a message to parents confirming it had received a threatening email and evacuated its building. Gardaí stated that the latest threats are not considered credible, but warned that officers must treat every report seriously amid heightened security preparations. [1]

Threatening emails to educational institutions follow earlier security incidents across the country. As FTMQ News reported earlier, the Irish Department of Education initiated a review of safety protocols after schools across Ireland received emails containing warnings of mass shootings and bomb attacks, seeking advice from An Garda Síochána twice in 2026. [4]

Security concerns have also impacted regional transportation infrastructure. As FTMQ News reported earlier, a phone threat at Cork Airport triggered a security response that delayed a flight by 90 minutes. European security services assessed an 80 percent likelihood that Russian intelligence orchestrated recent airline hoax bomb threats across Europe. [5]