Australia: Sydney schools evacuated after bomb threats

Melbourne, Feb 1: Several schools in Sydney were evacuated and locked down on Monday after reportedly receiving bomb threats leading to police operations in Australia's largest city.

At least eight operations are underway at Sydney schools and among those affected are Hunters Hill High, Sydney's Girls High School, Randwick Girls High, Mosman High, Riverside Girls High, James Ruse Agricultural High, Cheltenham Girls High School and Caringbah High School.

Police confirmed via a tweet at 1.28 pm (local time) on Monday that "As a precaution, a police operation is under way at a number of schools across Sydney". Police said the probe was continuing and they were liaising with the Department of Education.

Students at Sydney Girls High School at Moore Park have reportedly been evacuated to a nearby oval. A school in Hunters Hill was also reportedly in lockdown, reports said. Sydney's Cleveland Street has been closed in both directions at South Dowling Street due to the police operations, said the Transport Network.

Motorists were being advised to take alternative routes and allow extra time.

A police spokeswoman confirmed a number of operations were underway but said there was "nothing to substantiate that there is anything serious at any of them at this stage".

The spokeswoman said the threats were "very low level" and said there was "nothing at all" to suggest the threats were related to terrorism. Police are warning that making such threats is a serious criminal offence and every effort will be made to identify the person or persons responsible.

Today's operations come after seven New South Wales schools went into lockdown for several hours following threats made on Friday morning. Later on, after sweeping the schools, police declared the threats a hoax.

PTI