Bomb scares Victoria?

[Mel-B]

I heard about the bomb threats at schools today in Melbourne? It left a knot in my stomach. Just imagining my home schooled child going to school in a new city for a safer life and going through that? Does this type of thing happen often? is it a terrorist thing, or kids thinking its funny? I have reached my limit on most online papers and cant get a proper article to read.

 

Now my step-mother-law is having a field day - there is crime and problems EVERYWHERE - even MELBOURNE! *sigh*

 

 

[Mara]

Mel-B, it is the first time this has happened in the 18+ years that I have lived in Melbourne. The following is in today's paper :

 

A series of hoax bomb threats led to the evacuation of several schools and learning centres across Victoria and interstate on Friday.

Victoria Police said the phone calls were not linked to terrorism and there was no imminent threats to schools. 
 

Berwick Chase Primary, Berwick Lodge Primary School, Aitken Creek Primary School in Craigieburn and Reservoir High School were among the schools. 

Victoria Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson said the origin of the calls was being investigated.

"We are aware that schools in a number of other states and countries have received similar phone calls in the past 24 hours," she said. 

 

British media reported bomb threats led to 18 schools being evacuated in Britain on Wednesday, following similar events the day before.  

Police there are investigating if the calls were part of a co-ordinated, "false and malicious" hoax that spread to France.

The Telegraph reported a Russian Twitter group calling itself "Evacuators 2K16" appeared to claim responsibility for some of the hoaxes and had invited students to get in touch if they wanted to "get out of school".

It said the Twitter account claiming responsibility was removed earlier this week but the threats had continued.

The Guardian reported the account used a profile picture of Russian President Vladimir Putin and an email with a Russian ".ru" suffix.

It said the account's banner picture showed part of a flag linked to Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group.

Cowes Primary School on Phillip Island was also evacuated after receiving a threatening call about 11am.

Rodney McKenzie, assistant principal at the school, said a receptionist received a "computerised call".

"[It was] like a robot speaking," Mr McKenzie said.

"It said there was a bomb located in the school in a backpack."

Mr McKenzie said the school's 553 students, including new prep students, were evacuated to the nearby cultural centre. 

"Police have inspected the school and there's no perceived threat, but students won't be returning to school today," he said.

Berwick Lodge Primary School principal Henry Grossek said an office staff member had answered the phone at 11.24am and heard a male voice.  

"Some of [the hoaxes] were automated, but ours was a real voice," he said.

"He said, 'There is a bomb at your school … you haven't got much time.'"

Mr Grossek described being told about the phone call as "terribly frightening".

"We were frozen in fear for a few seconds," he said.

Mr Grossek and the school's teachers then evacuated 565 students, including 85 prep students at their first day of school.

He said some of the children were "confused and worried", especially the younger ones.

While some parents laughed the event off as a harmless hoax, Mr Grossek said in the world's political climate there was now increased fear in such situations.

"I was speaking to police and we've never had anything of this scale happen before," he said.

"We haven't had co-ordinated bomb threats or copycats to schools all on the one day.

"Given what's happening overseas and in our country, we're on heightened alert these days."

Victorian Education Minister James Merlino said a kindergarten had also received a threatening call. 

Mr Merlino said the government was taking the calls seriously. "The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is always our number one priority," he said.

"All of our schools and kindergartens have emergency management plans and the schools affected by these threats have activated them. The Department is providing support to all of these schools."

The mother of a student at Berwick Chase Primary School said the children had been sent home after the evacuation, but "none were worse for wear".

"I have heard that most of the schools involved received recorded messages of the threat," she said.

Several schools across Sydney were also evacuated after receiving bomb threats understood to have been made between 10.50am and 11.10am.

 

 

[Guest]

I think you have to look at these things in context. Its obvious that it has been a major hoax and not just in Victoria. I remember when I was in school many years ago un the UK having bomb threats, I suppose with the times we are living in though we automatically think terrorist instead if some idiot prank call.

 

It's also strange the fact that South Africans will immediately jump to attention when they hear things going on in other countries and yet they cant admit what's going on in theirs. How many murders are there in SA everyday, how many hijackings, rapes, robbery, home invasions? I could go on and on. This Is an isolated incident and not a daily occurence. Keep in mind it was also a hoax, there is nothing to laugh at with what's going on in SA.

 

Don't let other people scare you into staying. ?

[Mel-B]

Thanks guys. No just needed some context, getting pummeled by the step-mother-in-law, and feeling fragile Monday the container is being packed. Full steam ahead.

 

 

[rozellem]

It happened a few times when I was in primary school in RSA and it happened at least once in high school.  Once in High school, they found out it was two standard 9 boys that had taken the day off and was phoning from their home phone.  Needless to say, they were expelled.  Tell your MIL to take a chill pill and start supporting her kids, or she is going to alienate them pronto. 

[BrendanH]

Probably a student who didn't study for a test or something.

[RYLC]

20 hours ago, Mel-B said:

getting pummeled by the step-mother-in-law

 

 

 

This makes me so MAD!  I always call people out on this.  So instead of engaging and answering her rants disguised as questions I answer with information: "Do you know what you are doing is called emotional blackmail?"  or "Dr Phil would have a field day with the guilt trip you are trying to lay on us" etc.  Tell her what her behaviour would be called in psycholoigcal terms (with kindness if you can manage it or with clenched teeth if you can't).  #SmotherInLawMuch

[Riekie]

They're thinking it is a hacker based in Russia who gets his kicks out of it.  They'll get him soon enough... (He is probably still living in his mother's basement).

[BrendanH]

Sounds like they got one of them : http://m.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/teenager-arrested-after-threatening-call-to-calwell-school-20160204-gmlidk.html