Saint Kertigern College: Hospitals and schools across New Zealand searched after ‘bomb threat’ sent to 16 institutions
A “concerning email” sent to 16 organizations in New Zealand has prompted police to search hospitals and order the evacuation of at least one school.
Officers searched businesses on Thursday, including the capital’s Wellington and Bowen Hospital, Christchurch’s Burwood Hospital and Auckland Hospital.
Saint Kertigern College, also in Auckland, was evacuated as many students sat their final exams.
The email reportedly contained a bomb threat and was sent to sixteen organizations, although police declined to publicly identify them.
New Zealand’s health department, Te Whatu Ora, has assured staff are on site and it is safe to visit hospitals as usual.
Auckland’s Saint Kertigern College was evacuated and closed on Thursday after a ‘concerning email’ was deemed a bomb threat
The school’s website stated that the collage was undergoing ‘evacuation drills’ and urged people not to visit the site
Students and staff at Saint Kertigern College were evacuated to the oval before the school closed for the day ‘out of an abundance of caution’.
About 170 students took the Year 12 NCEA exams and many traveled to nearby schools to complete their tests.
The school’s deputy principal Jann Marshall told Radio New Zealand students can apply to take the evacuation into account when deriving their grades.
“The safety of students and staff was a top priority,” she said.
‘Each school has its own processes for dealing with a security lockdown, and these apply during the exam period.’
Police said in a statement that they were aware of “how disturbing these emails are for everyone involved.”
‘We would like to thank everyone involved for their cooperation during our investigation.’
The NZ Health Department said the hospital remains open, but officers are on site and staff remain vigilant
Te Whatu Ora’s national director for hospital and specialist services, Fionnagh Dougan, said she was aware that some hospitals received the threatening email at around 9.30am on Thursday morning.
“Staff have followed police advice and we remain vigilant. Our hospital sites have remained open and all services are continuing.
‘People with appointments in our hospitals or who require emergency treatment should be assured that they can safely attend their local hospital as usual.’