Gardaí carry out sweep of Athlone school after threatening email

Gardaí have carried out a sweep of an Athlone school after it received a "threatening email" this morning (Wednesday).

The Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) sent out a notification to parents of students at Athlone Community College at 11am on Wednesday, November 11 informing them of the email.

"An Garda Síochana were contacted and are aware of the matter. They have visited the school amd carried out a sweep of the whole building.

"The school has been advised there is no threat and will continue to operate as normal."

The school added that the safety and well-being of students and staff "remains our priority".

It is estimated that over 300 schools across the country have received the email, with schools in Carlow, Kilkenny, Cork and Dublin also understood to have been among those that received a threatening email and have been evacuated.

It marks the second bomb threat made to schools in recent weeks and follows 30 flights being hit with hoax threats and a similar email that sparked the evacuation of multiple Irish media organisations.