PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and the National Security Minister, Fitzgerald Hinds, Friday warned those responsible for sending bomb threats by emails to schools across the island that they would be pursued and deal with according to law.
Several schools were evacuated as the threats were received at around 8.00 am (local time). Hinds, who was addressing a function here, said, “The bomb threats are not being taken lightly, and therefore the police, the Fire Service, and the other elements (of security) are already engaged in treating “the situation.
Police said they had received ten reports of bomb threats to schools on both islands and that “preliminary reports indicate that these threats were sent to schools via email.
In the messages sent to the schools, they were informed that “explosives are planted …on the buildings” and that they intend to “kill everyone.
“No one will be left alive. Trinidad will bleed; soon, very soon, a sea of blood will be spilled,” the message added. The TTPS said it is “actively investigating all such reports, as these incidents are treated as a high priority. Additionally, the matter engages the attention of the Cyber Crime Unit, the Special Branch, our bomb technicians, and all Divisional Commanders where affected schools are located.
“The TTPS is also warning all persons responsible for these threats that these matters will be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” the police warned.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), Martin Lum Kin, says schools nationwide have been dismissed as his members are taking their time.
“Schools would have taken the necessary steps to ensure the safety of the occupants,” he said, adding that “TTUTA condemns, in the strongest terms, this attempt to disrupt the whole running and the psychological effect.”
The TTUTA president said he hopes the relevant authorities can investigate the matter quickly “and something come out of it.”
Earlier, the Ministry of Education “strongly” condemned the bomb threats made to several schools resulting in the evacuation of students.
In a statement, the Ministry of Education said that following the threats, “in all cases, students have been evacuated” and that it is working closely with the various law enforcement agencies “to resolve this situation:
The ministry said that school principals have been “instructed to apprise parents and to keep them updated on these developments.”
“The Ministry of Education strongly condemns these reckless actions, which destabilize our nation’s schools and interrupt the education of our students. Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the TTPS immediately,” the ministry added.
The opposition spokesperson on education, Anita Haynes, also condemned the bomb threats.
“Our nation’s schools must be safe spaces for our children. Any attempt or threat of violence against our students must be urgently addressed.
“We have seen how the fear of violence has negatively impacted education sectors worldwide. As a nation, we must treat these instances seriously, not allowing such fears to take root in our schools,” Haynes said.
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