Bomb threat forces closure of Ringmer school

Ringmer Primary School was one of a number of schools across the UK to receive a call claiming a bomb had been placed on the site.

The call came in at around 10am this morning and the school was immediately evacuated. Ringmer Primary School’s headteacher took the decision to send all of the pupils home for the rest of the day.

Sussex Police confirmed Ringmer Primary School was one of two Sussex schools to receive the threat.

A police spokesperson said: “Police have responded to calls claiming that bombs had been placed in two Sussex primary schools.

“The calls came in minutes apart just after 10am on Monday (May 22) to Ringmer Primary School in Harrisons Lane and Kingsham Primary School in Hay Road, Chichester.

“Staff evacuated both schools, which were then searched by police. Staff and children were allowed back into Kingsham school around 12 noon.

“At Ringmer, the head teacher took the decision to send all of the children home for the rest of the day.”

Detective Superintendent Nick May said: “The calls were received by the schools just two minutes apart. They show similarities to a number of calls that were received at other schools in the UK back in January.

“These remain under investigation as malicious hoaxes and are not believed to be terrorist-related.

“We are now investigating the two incidents as elaborate hoaxes and are satisfied that there was no credible threat to the schools.”

According to national media reports, 21 schools across the UK were evacuated today following bomb threats.

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