SCHOOLS in Limerick were part of a nationwide bomb threat yesterday morning.
Up to 200 schools across Ireland received disturbing emails about a potential bomb threat on Wednesday morning, October 14, at 10.30am.
With strikes being held across the country on the same day due to public sector protests, schools were closed when these statements were received.
The email, which have been seen by Limerick Live, contained the subject line “Death awaits you.”
It follows on, “We are Hamas militants. Today we planted an explosive device in your building.”
The sender demanded, “an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as well as that the European Union withdraw its support for Israel.”
“You have one hour before dozens of people are blown to pieces,” the email continued.
The “explosive device was carefully crafted and contains a timer that will remotely detonate it once the specified time has elapsed.” “To prevent detection by sniffer dogs, it was placed in vacuum-sealed bag, which makes it impossible to find,” the sender added.
They finished with ‘Allahu Akbar”, which is an Arabic phrase meaning “God is the greatest.”
The Department of Education has urged any school that received this letter to immediately contact Gardaí. “The department communicated this advice to schools and boards of management bodies, and unions,” it said in a statement to The Irish Times.
Some schools further up the country remained closed this morning, October 15, amid safety concerns, but the majority opened as usual.
Members of An Garda Síochána are treating the email as an “unsettling hoax”.
In a statement to the Limerick Voice, they said, “An Garda Síochána is aware of a communication that has been sent to a number of educational establishments on Wednesday 14th October 2026.”
“Gardaí are currently assessing the contents and credibility of that communication.”
“Gardaí are engaging with a number of educational establishments.”
“No further information is available at this time.”
It remains unclear to the Limerick Voice as to what schools in Limerick have received the emails.
The Department of Education has consulted with Gardaí on the issue. Schools that received the threatening email have been advised to contact Gardaí by calling 999.