Liverpool School Call Off Classes After Bomb Threat, Authorities Clear Incident as 'Hoax'

The LIPA Primary and High School in Liverpool City Centre called off classes on Monday, 9 March, after an alleged bomb threat spread across Merseyside. However, it would later be revealed by Merseyside Police that the malicious communications were nothing more than a hoax.

Authorities also clarified that they never issued an advisory telling schools to close. However, LIPA went on to inform parents not to bring their children to school anyway. The only other school that took action was Chesterfield High School in Crosby, temporarily placing the school in lockdown before resuming normal activities.

'Upon discovery of the email this morning our leadership team took the decision to enter a temporary lockdown procedure, as is national policy, while emergency services were contacted,' a spokesperson for Chesterfield stated.

Aside from LIPA and Chesterfield, there were a number of schools that received the hoax threat. That includes Maricourt Catholic High School in Maghull; St Anne's Catholic Primary School in Huyton; Sudley Primary School in Aigburth; Runnymede St Edwards Primary School in West Derby and Mosspits Primary School in Wavertree.

Who Was Behind the Hoax Threat?

After obtaining a copy of the hoax email, it showed that it was signed off by a Merseyside criminal, BBC reported. The said signee is serving a prison sentence overseas for hacking and fraud.

In the email, there was no specific target mentioned. However, the email did mention schools in Liverpool.

In an effort to avoid the hoax from spreading, Merseyside Police called on the public to avoid sharing misinformation and rumours, particularly on social media. Although fake, authorities are trying to avoid adding more worries for parents and guardians.

'Based on the information we have received and assessed, there has been no requirement for any school to close,' the Merseyside Police said in a statement. 'This matter is being treated as a hoax, but we are aware of rumours circulating on social media which are creating additional concerns for parents and guardians.'

With the turmoil that the fake bomb threat has caused, police are now probing the issue. No arrests have been made as of this writing, but the Merseyside Police vow to release updates when ready.

A Series of Hoax Threats

The recent hoax threat comes months after another incident that happened in January 2026. At the time, a series of hoax emails were received by different schools on different dates.

The first was Holly Lodge Girls' College in West Derby, Liverpool, which received the hoax threat on 19 January. Greenbank High School in Southport would follow, receiving a fake threat 23 January. The Belvedere Academy in Princes Park, Liverpool would also get one three days later. This resulted in the schools being placed on lockdown.

A 21-year-old man from Runcorn was arrested by Merseyside Police on suspicion of offences under the Online Safety Act in connection with the three incidents according to a previous report by BBC News.

With a new mischief emerging and causing chaos and panic, all eyes are on the Merseyside Police. It will now be up to them to find the one behind the recent hoax that caused inconvenience and panic to schools and, most especially, worried parents.