Sussex Police at Brighton secondary school 'bomb threat'

Sussex Police officers were at the front gates of Cardinal Newman Catholic School in Hove this morning to reassure children after emails were sent to pupils and staff suggesting the presence of "two highly explosive devices" in the school.

Emails also demanded a "ransom" suggesting it should be paid to a Saudi Arabian contact. Some 16 hours and 57 minutes was given for this to be fulfilled.

Police patrolled the school's perimeter this morning (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

But principal Claire Jarman told parents the police believed the email is a "scam" and that there is "no intelligence" to suggest the threat is real.

Accounts of former students, purporting to be taken over by the Islamic State, were used to send the messages which also included shocking threats to "slaughter" children if the group's plans were not met.The first email sent to students and staff at the secondary school (Image: Supplied)

Other emails targeted specific classes and "groups" at the religious school threatening torture and further violence. 

Concerned parents joined police officers at the school entrance to make sure the children got to their classrooms safely.

Principal Claire Jarman in the school's chapel (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Principal Claire Jarman wrote to parents last night to say the school had contacted the police as soon as it found out about the emails.

She told The Argus: "I fully appreciate that recent news headlines, both local, and global, mean that any such threat will create anxiety.

"This is why we informed the police immediately to get their assessment of the level of credibility."

In a message to parents, she added: "We are aware of how distressing it is to receive such messages but the police would point to the fact that the relatively low sums involved (£30,000) indicate the lack of credibility to the threat.

"They have no intelligence to suggest this threat is anything other than a scam."

A police car driving past the school's gate this morning (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Some 2,497 pupils attend years 7 to 13 at the secondary school and sixth-form college, according to the latest government figures.

She added: "As our technical support and senior leadership teams worked on this issue through the night, it became apparent that the emails were being sent by someone with knowledge that only a student could have, so please trust us when we say we know the threat is both a malicious communication and not a credible one. 

"None of this is to mitigate or diminish how distressing it would be to receive those emails and we are particularly mindful of Newman families who have come here having suffered the most awful threat levels in other parts of the world and came to Brighton as a safe place."

The school believes it is the work of a student - and not the Islamic State (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Youngsters were able to stay at home today, as the principal said "some families would have felt fearful of sending their child in."

The Argus understands this comes just days after a password breach at the school which meant every school and college email account password was reset.

Posters were placed around the school telling schoolchildren how to reset their passwords by using a unique identification code.

Ms Jarman said: "Sadly, I am aware from other headteacher colleagues that these threats are more and more common in school settings, and once we have fixed the cyber breach and settled our community, we will be looking at stronger measures to protect all of our cyber security. 

"I can offer full reassurance that there was no breach of any internal data other than students' email addresses."

Police officers walking near the school (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Since, principal Claire Jarman said: "Students were given an individual password to reset their account, making sure that students could only access their own accounts.

"Many thanks to the parents who have been so understanding and sent in messages of support. Please believe me when I say I take your children’s safety and security as seriously as I do my own children’s, and I would never willingly put them in the way of harm."

Sussex Police have been approached for comment.